WITH THE Compliments of the 

rOLUMBIAM LIBERTY — 

BELL COMMITTEE 



LIBERTY P 





THE COLUMBIAN LIBERTY SELL, A MISSIONARY OF LIBERTY AND PEACE, IN ITC PLACE AT THE POINT OF 

HONOR, THE ARCHITECTURAL FRONT OF THE ADMINISTRATION BUILDING, 

WORLD'S COLUMBIAN EXPOSITION, CHICAGO, 1893 



F»R1CE, 2S CENXS 



The Great I,il)erly ami Peace I3cll was rung for tlie first lime in prophecy 
at lo o'clock oil Monday morning, September Ilth, l<S93, on the occasion of 
the meeting of the World's Congress of Religions. Tiie ringing was done by 
one of the founders of the American Institute of Christian Philosophy. 
The following account is taken from the story of the World's Congress of 
Religions. 

" The two halls used \vere named the ' Hall of Columbus,' and the 
' Hall of Washington.' The strokes on the new Liberty Bell, one for each 
of the ten great religions, proclaimed on the morning of September nth, 1893, 
the formal opening of tlie ' W^irld's Parliament of Religions.' On the old 
Liberty Hell of Philadelphia, was inscribed ' Proclaim liberty throughout all 
the land and to all the inhabitants thereof;' on the new Liberty Bell whose 
first prophetic service was to open the greatest convention of men ever 
assembled was inscribed ' A new commandment I give unto you. That you 
love one another.' " 

On the afternoon of that day, Swami Vivekananda, a Hindoo monk said : 
"Sectarianism, bigotry, and its horrible descendant fanaticism, have filled the 
earth with violence, drenched it often and often with human gore, destroyed 
civilization, and sent whole nations into despair. Had it not been for this 
horrible demon society would have been much further advanced than it is. 
But its time has come and I fervently believe that the bell that tolled this 
morning in honor of the representation of the different religions of the earth, 
in this parliament assembled, is the death knell to all fanaticism, that it is the 
death knell to all persecutions with the sword and pen, and to all uncharitable 
feelings between brethren wending their way to the same goal.'^ 

Later in the week. Rabbi Gottheill, in delivering an extemporaneous 

address on the greatness and influence of Moses, said, referring to the opening 

day of the Congress r " Last Monday morning it was a day of great solemnity 

with us. About this very hour of the day, I and my brethren, over the face of 

the earth read this prayer : 

" Our God and God of oi;r fathers, reign Tliou over the whole world in Thy glory, 
and be exalted in Thy majesty over the whole earth, and shine forth in the excellence of 
Thy supreme power over all the inhabitants of the terrestrial world, and may everything 
that has been made be sensible that Thou hast formed it, and all who have breath in their 
nostrils know the Lord God of Israel reigneth and His supreme power ruleth over all. 
And thus also extend the fear of Thee, O Lord our God, over all Thy work and the dread 
of Thee over al! that Thou hast created, so that all Thy works may fear Thee and all 
creatures bow down before Thee, so that all may form one bond to do Thy will with an 
upright heart, for we know, O Lord our God, that the dominion is Thine, that strength is 
in Thy hand, that might is in Thy right hand, and that Thv name is to be reverenced over 
all the earth. * J ' 

" Just at that moment this great Parliament of I''eligions was opened by the 

ringing of the Great Liberty and Peace Bell, and we could not but point to 

this manifestation as a sign that our prayers and our sufferings and our labors 

have not been in vain — that to this free country it was given to show that the 

Word of God is true, and that not one of His promises can fall to the ground." 

Rev. PL W. Thomas, D.D., in his introduction to the book "The 

World's Congress of Religions," says:' " A hundred yeais hence when tin. 

Exposition shall have been forgoitjh, these Auxiliary Congresses will be 

remembered and their influence felt; and a hundred years hence, the day on 

. which the Parliament of Religions was opened, will probably be celebrated as 

the Segii.ning of a new era of the largest religious toleration and fraternity of 

mankind.' 



/ 



LIBERTY PRIMER. 




GIVING THE DATES OF THE ANNIVERSARIES COMMEMORATED BY 
THE RINGING OF 

THE COLUMBIAN LIBERTY BELL 

COMPILED BV 

WILLIAM O. MCDOWELL, NEWARK, N. J., 

CHAIRMAN OF THE COLUMBIAN LIBERTY BELL COMMITTEE, 

WITH THE CO-OPERATION OF 

JOHN CLARK RIDPATH, HEZEKIAH BUTTERWORTH, 

HENRY BALDWIN, LOULIE M. GORDON, 

WILLIAM SALTER. 

SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON ANNIVERSARIES TO BE COMMEMORATED BY THE 
RINGING OF THE BELL. 

JANr ARY, FEBRUAITY, 9IARCH, AMMI., MAY, JUNE. 



" When a deed is done for freedom, through the broad earth's aching breast 
Runs a thrill of joy prophetic, trembling on from east to west. 
» * * 

For mankind are one in s) rit, and an instinct bears along 
Round the earth's electric :ircle, the swift flash of right or wrong ; 
Whether conscious or unc nscious, yet humanity's vast frame. 
Through its ocean-sunderei fibres, feels the gush of joy or shame ; 
In the gain or loss of one race all the rest have equal claim." — Lowell, 



PRICE 25 CENTS 



Copyright 1894, by 
William O. McDowell, Chairman. 



apCfi^^"^ 



M 



The following Ixjautiful poem was written by Howard Hawthorne 
McGee, of Tennessee, before the bell was cast, and dedicated to Mrs. J. 
Harvey Alathes, the member of the Columbian Liberty Bell Committee 
representing that state. 

THE NEW LIBERTY BELL 

It will ring in the mystical future, this bell we shall consecrate, 
And its tones will hold all of the noble, the royal and tender and great. 
That dwells in the past and the present, and all of its music shall be 
The echo of greatness and glory, the pa;an and hymn of the free. 

It shall ring, in its music of silver, the passions that gave to the swords 
Of our fathers the infinite power to strike down their tyrants and lords ; 
It shall tell of the cradle of free<loni, and then it shall herald and sing 
The splendors of love that the manhood of li])erty surely shall bring. 

For think not that tyrants and masters are dead, or that fetter and chain 
No longer hold freemen in bondage, or prison the helpless in pain. 
Think not that the rack and the dungeon are gone with the powers of 

kings, 
Or that freedom's sweet lustre has fallen o'er all the old blackness of 

things. 

Nay, still the dread image of power with Upas shade darkens the world, 
And Tyranny's victims in dungeons more foul than old Bastiles are 

hurled. 
The proud and the brave and the gifted, the noble of heart and of will 
Are enslaved and enchained in the bondage of hideous manacles still. 

The throne and the sceptre are perished, and the ploughshare is wrought 

of the sword ; 
The noble has yielded his title ; we know not the king and the lord ; 
But lo, o'er the world the old sorrow — lo, still how the multitudes bleed 
'Neath the crush and the shame of the warfare and horror of hatred and 

greed ! 

For freedom is Love, and Love only can break off our fetters and chains. 
The love that will take up all sorrows and share in all tears and all pains, 
That will bring us the oneness of feeling to make the poor high as the 

rich. 
And bring down the rich in compassion to lift up the poor in the ditch. 

Yes, the bell that we build must bring tidings of the things that the 

future will show. 
As well as to breathe ns the memories of glories that died long ago. 
It must give us new heart for new warfare as well as new love for the old. 
If its glory will copy the glory the first bell of Liberty told. 

Ah, yes, it must deal with the living as well as the brave who are dead ; 
It must bear the old watchword and warning it bore when men battled 

and bled. 
The new bell must ring like the old one, in passionate music above 
A waste of wild warfare and hatred, the peace and the freedom of love. 

The freedom that makes of men brothers, the freedom that throws in the 

dust 
All the base and the selfish ambitions that flourished from greed and 

from lust. 
Be this then its message and tidings : " A love for the brave of the past, 
And the hope for a Future, when freedom will reach to the lowest at last. " 



LIBERTY'S BELL 

BY MRS. MADGE MORRIS WAGNER, SAX DIEGO, CAL. 

" There 's a legend told of a far-off land " — 
The land of a king — where the people planned 
To build them a bell that never should ring 
But to tell of the death or the birth of a king, 
Or proclaim an event, with its swinging slow. 
That could startle the nation to joy or woe. 

It was not to be builded — this bell that they planned — 

Of common ore dug from the breast of the land, 

But of metal first moulded by skill of all arts — 

Built of the treasures of fond human hearts. 

And from all o'er the land like pilgrims they came, 

Each to cast in a burden, a mite in the flame 

Of the furnace — ^his offering — to mingle and swell 

In the curious mass of this wonderful bell. 

Knights came in armor and flung in the shields 

That had warded off blows on the Saracen fields, 

Freemen brought chains from prisons afar — 

Bonds that had fettered the captives of war. 

And sabers were cast in the molten flood 

Stained with the crimson of heroes' blood. 

Pledges of love, a bracelet, a ring, 

A gem that had gleamed in the crown of a king. 

The coins that had ransomed a maiden from death. 

The words, hot with eloquence, caught from the breath 

Of a sage, and a prayer from the lips of a slave 

Were heard and recorded, and cast in the wave 

To be melted and moulded together, and tell 

The tale of their wrongs in the tones of the bell. 

It was finished at last, and, by artisan hand. 

On its ponderous beams hung high over the land. 

The slow years passed by ; but no sound ever fell 

On a listening ear from the tongue of the bell. 

The brown spider wove her frail home on its walls, 

And the dust settled deep in its cavernous halls. 

Men laughed in derision, and scoffed at the pains 

Of the builders ; and harder and harder the chains 

Of a tyrannous might on the people were laid ; 

More insatiate, more servile, the tribute they paid. 

There was something they found far more cruel than death 

And something far sweeter than life's fleeting breath. 



But, hark ! in tlio midst of the turhulent thronfr, 

The moans of the weak aiul the groans of the strong, 

There 's a cry of alarm. Some invisible power 

Is moving the long silent hell iu the tower. 

Forward and backward, and forward it swung, 

And Liberty ! Liberty ! Liberty ! rung 

From its wide, 1)razen throat, over moiantain and vale, 

Till the seas caught the echo, and monarchs turned pale. 

Our forefathers heard it — that wild thrilling tone, 

Kinging out to the world, and they claimed it their own. 

And up from the valley, and down from the hill, 

From the flame of the forge, from the field and the mill 

They paid with their lives the jjrice of its due. 

And left it a legacy, freemen, to you. 

And ever when danger is menacing nigh. 

The mighty bell swings in the belfry on high, 

And men wake from their dreams, and grasp in affright 

Their swords, when its warning sweeps out in the night. 

It rang in wild pa;an o'er war's gory waves 

When the gyves were unloosed from our millions of slaves ; 

It started with horror and trembled a knell 

From ocean to ocean, when brave Lincoln fell. 

And again its wild notes sent a thrill through the land 

When Garfield was struck by a traitorous hand. 

And once in each year as time onward rolls. 

Slowly and muffled and mournful it tolls 

A dirge, while Columbia pauses to spread 

A tribute of love on the graves of her dead. 

"\Miile Washington's name is emblazoned in gold. 
While the valor of Putman, or Campbell is told, 
While patriots treasure the words of a Hayne, 
The fiery drops from the pen of a Paine ; 
While dear is the name of child, mother or wife. 
Or sweet to a soul is the measure of life, 
America's sons will to battle prepare 
When its tones of alarm ring aloud on the air ; 
For Liberty's goddess holds in her white hand 
The cord of the bell that swings over our land. 



LIBERTY PRIMER. 



The Great Columbiau Liberty and Peace Bell has four duties ; 

First — Ringing on the anniversaries of the birth of the creators of 
liberty, nine a.m., the signal being three strokes to call attention ; 
then seven strokes, this being the number of letters in the word 
"liberty," rung at intervals of ten seconds. 

Second — At ten a.m., in the spirit of prophecy. This is a very rare 
ceremony. The first time the Great Bell rang in prophecy was on 
October 11th, 1893, at the hour when the World's Parliament of Religions 
assembled in the Art Institute, Chicago, on which occasion, besides the 
signal of three strokes to call attention, one stroke was given for each of 
the religions represented in the Congress. 

Third — At twelve noon, on the anniversaries of the great liberty 
events in the world's history. The signal at this hour is in two forms. 
First, the "liberty signal," which consists of three quick strokes to call 
attention. Then thirteen strokes, the number of the colonies that 
created the United States, rung at intervals of ten seconds. 

The second and ' ' great liberty signal ' ' consists of three strokes 
quickly given to call attenticn, and then one stroke recorded for each of 
the States and Territories in the United States, including the District of 
Columbia and Alaska, closing with five strokes for the other nations, all 
at intervals of ten seconds. 

The great signal is made use of on the Fourth of July and also in 
foreign countries when the bell on their soil commemorates the event 
that comes nearest to being to their people what the Fourth of July is to 
the citizens of the United States. When the great signal is given on 
foreign soil, the number of strokes is based upon some fact in connection 
with that nation's history. As an illustration, when the great signal was 
rung at the Columbian Exhibition on the occasion of celebrating Mexican 
Day, the number of strokes given was fixed by the number of states and 
territories in the Mexican Republic. 

Fourth — In protest when some backward step is taken by the 
representatives of republican institutions. The ringing in protest is 
always at midnight and consists of a tocsin or rapid ringing in alarm. 
The beU has never, up to this date, rung in protest. 



When the anniversaries of the events that are recorded in Liberty 
Primer are commemorated with a dignity and a purpose worthy of the 
occasion, the Human Freedom League will place tke Columbian Liberty 
Bell at the disposal of the organization or committee having the celebra- 
tion in charge. 



6 LIHKKTY PKIMKU 

INSTRUCTIONS. 

The Columbian Liberty Bell Committee have had a quantity of 
small Souvenir Liberty Bells made from the surplus historic metal saved 
in casting the great bell. 

The Souvenir Bells are handsomely mounted on a bronze frame and 
standards similar to the hanging of a regular church bell. Each Sou- 
venir Bell has the three texts engraved upon it, copied from the Colum- 
bian Liberty Bell : 

I. 

"Proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants 
thereof," (Lev. xxv. 10,) as appears upon the Independence or "Old 
Liberty Bell." 

II. 

' ' Glory to Grod in the Highest, and on earth peace, good vrill toward 
men," (Luke ii. 14,) as appears on the Centennial Bell of 1876, Inde- 
pendence Hall, Philadelphia. 

IIL 

"A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another," 
( John xiii. 34, ) adopted as the special text of the Columbian Liberty 
Bell. 

These little bells are especially intended for schools, and "Liberty 
Primer" is to accompany them and give the dates and hour when the 
great bell rings, that every celebration around the great bell may be 
repeated at the same hour in the schools throughout the world. 

The Souvenir bell should be placed on brackets in the most conspic- 
uous place in the school or assembly room, at a height enabling scholars 
to conveniently reach the cord with which the bell is to be rung. 

It is suggested that the bell be surmounted by a canopy formed of 
the National Flag crossed and entwined with the beautiful Peace Flag, 
which consists of a National Flag entirely surrounded by a border of 
white one-third the width of the flag used for this purpose. The same 
arrangement of the white border around the flag of any nation forms its 
own appropriate Liberty and Peace Flag. 

If the celebration is to occur at nine o'clock. ( immetliately after the 
school is in order, ) the teacher will announce from Liberty Primer the 
anniversary and why it is celebrated, and then selecting one of the 
scholars, in recognition of some manly or womanly act of patriotism, 
generosity or nobility of character, after explaining to the scholars why 
this honor is conferred, will direct such scholar to ring the bell. 

The three strokes calling attention can be replaced with a rapid 
ringing of the little bell. Then the teacher can wait a half minute, and 
at intervals of ten seconds have the bell rung, the ringing to take the place 
of the stroke upon the great bell. The hours for ringing the great bell in 



LIBERTY PRIMER 7 

commemoration of events, have been fixed at nine and twelve for the 
convenience of schools, the first being the hour of assembling, and the 
second the noon hour. This last can take place just previous to the 
hour of twelve, so that it shall not interfere with the dismissal. 

These celebrations can also be made the occasion of securing a visit 
from parents, which is exceedingly desirable. 

The Committee in charge are desirous of placing one of these bells 
and Primer in every school house in the world, and we would urge that 
in the United States on February 22d and July 4th, a public celebration 
be had at every school house around the school house liberty pole bearing 
the star spangled banner, that your Souvenir Liberty Bell be made 
use of, and that a thank offering for liberty be made and sent to this 
Committee to be used to present Souvenir Bells and Liberty Primers to 
schools in all parts of the world. Every school or patriotic society con- 
tributing $15 will receive a present of a Souvenir Liberty Bell and 
Liberty Primer. 




COLUMBIAN LIBERTY AND PEACE BELL. 

BY CECELIA DE VEEE. 

Thou art the symbol of the inward hell 

That pleads and teaches with "the still small voice," 

But strikes the honr lor action with a swell 
That wakes the spirit to heroic choice. 

Ring out, O blessed bell ! a tocsin sound, 
To call brave warriors to the Cause of Peace, 

To make all earth for once a battle ground 

Through whose triumphant victories Avrong shall cease. 

Eing loud, O ring the very wrath of God ! 

Omniscient peal ! that naught of evil brooks. 
True as the plummet, sure as measuring rod. 

Devoid of fancies, free Irom schemes and crooks. 

Bring love baptismal, bring the vital strength 

That Michael and his angels had of old, 
Till clothed in her right mind the earth at length 

Shall know the fabled dreamed-of age of gold. 

Ring fearless peals to thunder far and wide 
With leveling force like horus at Jericho ! 

Ring out in earnest ! heaven is on thy side. 
Till bastile, fort and citadel are low. 

Ring shame upon the navies of the deep, 

Those monsters lor iniquity, those floating hells, 

O'er which the pitying angels pause to weep, 
While demon pride each rivaling nation swells. 

Ring shame that Carnage with his blood-red hand 
Presents the engines used in Christian might, 

Tfeat would be spurned from darksome Horror-Land, 
As far too evil for plutonian night. 

Ring till the Christian bells in steeple tower, 
O'er Legislative halls and Learning's fane 

O'er mart, and mine, and factory own thy power. 
And vibrate with the justice of thy strain. 

Till heathen lands their passion-rousing din 
Shall silence for thy chime so pure and blest ; 

When war retreats with legion hosts of sin 
Thy music then "shall charm the savage breast." 

Ring soft and low sweet gratitude and prayer ; 

King " Peace on Earth," so sadly long delayed ! 
God's joyful band again will thrill the air, 

'Mid love-bought glory that shall never fade. 

As human hearts their angelhood disclose, 
The desert wastes in fruitfulness shall sing, 

The wilderness shall Ijlossom as the rose 
And hells of heaven shall eternal ring. 

Mt. Lebanon, N. Y. 



LIBKETY PRIMER 9 

HISTORICAL 

The Columbian Liberty Bell is the first deliberately created Liberty 
Bell as a Liberty Bell to ring only on the anniversaries of Liberty Events 
in the history of the world. Over 22,000 difterent contributions of 
metal identified with eflbrts for Liberty or with the lives of the ' ' Creators 
of Liberty," enter into its composition. Over 250,000 pennies were sent 
in. The bell was the central feature of the Fourth of July celebration 
at the World's Columbian Exposition, being rvmg for the first time 
jointly that day, by telegraphic wire, by Mrs. Madge Morris "Wagner, 
of San Diego, California, the authoress of the poem (printed with this) 
which crystallized the thought, in the mind of the originator of the 
bell, that led to its creation, and Miss Minnie F. Michley, of Penn- 
sylvania, Secretary of the Committee. 

In the next issue of Liberty Primer, giving April, May and June, a 
more full and detailed historical sketch will be given. 



January 1st, 1735. Paul Revere born at Boston, Mass. 

In 1756 he was a Lieutenant of Artillery stationed at Lake George. 
He took part in the expedition to Crown Point. 

He learned the art of copper plate engraving, and in 1795, engraved 
the paper money issued by the Legislature of Massachusetts. 

He was one of those who took part in the ' ' Boston Tea party, ' ' 
December 16th, 1773. On the night of the 18th of April, 1775, learning 
that the British troops were to advance for the purpose of seizing the 
military stores at Concord, he set out at cnce on horseback and warned 
the people as far as Lexington of the danger, and prepared them for the 
battle at Lexington on the next day. Before the evacuation of Boston a 
regiment of artillery was formed of which he was Lieutenant Colonel. 
He took part in the Penobscot Expedition. After the war he resumed 
business at Boston. In 1795 as Grand Master of the Free-Masons of 
Massachusetts he laid the corner-stone of the new State House at Boston. 
He died at Boston, May 10th, 1818. 

' ' The spark struck out by that steed in his flight 
Kindled the land into flame with its heat." — Longfellow. 

January 1st, 1745. Gen. Anthony Wayne born at East Town, Chester Co., Pa. 
Mad Anthony W^ayne. At the age of 16 he went out into the world. 
In September, 1765, he was Colonel of a regiment of Volunteers, and in 
1776 his regiment was accepted by Congress. He was Brigadier General 
on February 21st, 1777. In command at Ticouderoga from November, 
1776 to May, 1777. Brevet Major General, October 10th, 1783. Nomin- 
ated Commander-in-Chief by Washington, April 13th, 1792. He died 
from an attack of gout at the garrison Presque Isle (Erie), December 6th, 
1796. 



10 LIBEETY PRIMER 

His remains lie in the grave yanl of Old St. David's at Radnor, back 
of the Church, where there is a white marble monument, discolored by 
time and exposure, erected to his memory, which was pla<;ed there by the 
Pennsylvania Society of the Cincinnati. 

January 1st, 1808. Importation of Slaves into the United States prohibited. 

January 1st, 1863. The Emancipation Proclamation of President Abraham 
Lincoln became operative. It was issued September 22d, 1862. 

' ' This proclamation marks a great epoch in the progress of universal 
freedom." 

" Our fathers brought forth upon this continent a new nation, con- 
ceived in liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created 
equal. ' ' 

January 2d, 1788. Georgia ratified the Constitution. 

The Empire State of the South. One of the original thirteen States, 
named in honor of George II. 

January 3d, 1777. The Battle of Princeton, N. J. 

Washington in going from Trenton to Princeton encountered 
three regiments of British, under Colonel Mawhood, who were on their 
way to join Lord Cornwallis. The British were forced to retreat. Wash- 
ington continued on to Princeton, where one regiment had been left, and 
took 300 prisoners, 6 brass field pieces, a quantity of ammunition, and 
several wagons of baggage. The British loss was about 100 killed. The 
American loss is stated at 40 killed, among whom were Brig. -Gen. Hugh 
Mercer, Col. Hazlet, and Captains Shippen and Neal. 

January 3d, 1793. Lucretia Mott born at Nantucket Island, Mass. 

At the age of eleven she went to Boston. In 1817 she was a teacher 
of a small school, and in 1827 became conspicuous for her eloquence in 
Quaker meetings. She associated with the Hicksites on the division of 
the Quakers. She made several preaching tours through New England 
and the Middle States advocating peace principles and the abolition of 
Slavery. She was prominent in the organization of the American Anti- 
Slavery Society in 1833, and in 1840 went to England as a delegate to 
the World's Anti-Slavery Convention, but was not admitted to its 
deliberations. Returning to the United States she became interested in 
improving the condition of women, in the woman's suffrage movement and 
in behalf of the Women's Medical College at Philadelphia. She died at 
Philadelphia,' November 11th, 1880. 

"The woman apostle of peace, and the inspirer of the first peace 
movement in America." " Truth for authority, not authority for 
truth." 



LTBEETY PEIMEB 11 

January 6th, 1811. Charles Sumner born at Boston, Mass. 

Graduated at Harvard 1830, studied law with Judge Story. 
Admitted to the Bar, Editor of the American Jurist, Lecturer at Harvard 
Law School, after which he spent three years in Europe studying. On 
returning began the practice of law, but soon drifted into politics. In 
1851 he was elected United States Senator from Massachusetts and 
reelected until his death. He died at Washington, March 11th, 1874. 

"Sumner held that the national boundaries of the Union were so 
fixed that no state could escape from them by secession, that a state's 
secession was merely an abandonment of statehood, so that it fell back 
into the condition of a Territory and came under the absolute govern- 
ment of CoDgress. " " His speech entitled ' The True Grandeur of 
Nations, ' was pronounced to be the most noble contribution made by a 
modern writer to the cause of peace. " " True politics are simply morals 
applied to public affairs. ' ' 

January 7th, 1718. Israel Putnam born at Salem, Mass. 

He had but a moderate education. His family moved to Pomfret, 
Conn., in 1739, where he became a farmer. He in 1755 commanded a 
company from Connecticut and served through the French War. On 
peace being secured he returned to his farm. He was ploughing in the 
field when news was brought of the Battle of Lexington. Without 
changing his clothing he at once started for Cambridge. He came back 
from there, raised a regiment and brought them into camp. With 
Prescott he commanded at Bunker Hill. He was made Major General, 
and he was at Cambridge placed by Washington in command of the 
reserve. In 1776 he was sent to command the fortifications of New 
York, and then sent to fortify Philadelphia. In the winter of 1777 he 
was at Princeton, and in the spring appointed to the command in the 
Highlands, where he remained until 1779, when he was disabled by a 
stroke of paralysis. He died at Brookline, Conn., May 19th, 1790. "He 
was brave, energetic, and one of the most efficient officers of the Revo- 
lution." 



January 8th, 1815. The Battle of New Orleans, La. 

Sir Edward Packenham attacked the city of Ne(v Orleans with a 
force of British regulars, stated to have been about 10,000. Gen. Jackson, 
with an army of 6,000 volunteers and backwoodsmen, successfully 
defended the city. The British force was dreadfully cut to pieces, their 
loss of killed, wounded and captured amounting to about 2,600, includ- 
ing Gen. Packenham, who was killed. The American loss was 7 killed 
and 6 wounded. (Another account says 8 killed and 14 wounded.) 

" History records no example of so glorious a victory obtained with 
so little bloodshed on the part of the victorious." — James Munroe^s dis- 
patch at the time. 



12 LIBERTY PEIMKE 

January 9th, 1788. Connecticut ratified the Constitution. 

Called the Freestone, Nutmeg, or Woodeu Nutmeg State. The 
" Land of Steady Habits." One of the original thirteen States. 

January 10th, 1739. Ethan Allen born at Litchfield, Conn. 

He moved to Bennington, Vt., aljout 17fJ3. New York claimed 
jurisdiction over the Green Mountain Territory and so did New Hamp- 
shire. The King decided in favor of New York. Allen went to Albany 
and plead in favor of the New Hamp.shire settlers, but the case went 
against them. Allen was made the colonel of the ''Green Mountain 
Boys," and the New York settlers were driven out. Governor Trj'on 
oftered £150 for the capture of Allen and £50 for each of the other 
leaders. 

Hearing of the fight at Lexington, and knowing the situation of 
Ticonderoga, he marched for that fort. Benedict Arnold, who had been 
commissioned colonel by Massachusetts, also sought to reach it. Allen 
reached Lake George first. On the 10th of May, 1775, with but 83 men, 
he crossed the lake and reached the fort ; rushing in, he summoned the 
astonished commander to surrender "In the name of the Great Jehovah 
and the Continental Congress." He received the thanks of Congress. 
He was sent to Canada to learn the views of the Canadians, but he joined 
Montgomery in his expedition against Montreal, and he and his band were 
captured on September 25th. He was sent a prisoner to England, but 
soon returned, to be confined in jails and prison ships. He was 
exchanged May 8th, 1778. After the Revolution he lived in retirement. 

He died at Burlington, Vt., February 13th, 1789. (At Colchester, 
another account says.) " General Allen possessed strong powers of mind, 
but they never felt the influence of education. He was brave, humane, 
and generous." "As an expression of his patriotism and military talents, 
he was appointed to the command of the State militia. It does not 
appear, however, that his intrepidity Avas ever again brought to the test, 
though his patriotism was tried by an unsuccessful attempt of the British 
to bribe him to attemjit a union of Vermont with Canada." 

January 11th, 1757. Birth of Alexander Hamilton, on the Island of Nevis, 
W. I. 

Killed in a duel with Aaron Burr, dying in New York July 12th, 
1804. 

" He smote the rock of the national resources, and abundant streams 
of revenue gushed forth. He touched the dead corpse of public credit, 
and it sprang upon its feet." — Webster. 

January 12th, 1729. Edmund Burke born in Ireland. 

His father was a Protestant, his mother was a Catholic. He gradu- 
ated at Trinity College in 1748, and went to London in 1750. He was at 
one time the private secretary of William Gerard Hamilton during liis 



LIBERTY PKIMER 13 

ternl in Ireland as Secretary, and afterwards of the Marquis of Rocking- 
ham when he became Prime Minister. He was elected to the House 
of Commons first from Weudover, thgn from Bristol and afterwards from 
Malton. In 1794 he retired from Parliament with a pension, stated by 
one writer to have been £1,500, and by another £2,500, which was 
bestowed by government on account of his valuable services. He died 
July 8th, 1797. 

'In private life Burke was amiable and benevolent, in public life 
indefatigable, ardent and abhorrent of meanness and injustice. It was 
this latter quality which rendered him a persevering advocate of the 
Irish Catholic. As an orator he ranked among the first of modern 
times ; and as a writer, whether we consider the splendor of his diction, 
the richness and variety of his imagery or the boundless stores of knowl- 
edge which he displayed, it must be acknowledged that there are few his 
equal and none who transcend him. * * * No one ever lived and 
used the general ideas of the thinker more successfully to judge particu- 
lar problems of the statesman. No one has ever come so close to the 
details of practical politics, and at the same time remembered that these 
can only be understood and only dealt with by the aid of the broad con- 
ceptions of political philosophy. And what is more than all for perpetu- 
ity of fame, he was one of the great masters of the high and difficult art 
of elaborate composition.'' " The most consummate orator of modern 
times, friend of the Thirteen Colonies in their struggle for liberty." 

January 12th, 1737. Birth of John Hancock, at Quincy, Mass. 

Elected in 1766 to the General A-ssembly of the Province of Massa- 
chusetts, and became the President of that body. 

Elected to Congress, which met at Philadelphia in May, 1775, where 
he succeeded Peyton Randoliih as President. He returned home in 
October, 1777. First Governor of Massachusetts, and was annually 
reelected until 1785, when he resigned. In 1787 again elected Governor, 
and he retained the office until his death. 

"There are few lives, either ancient or modern, that afford, of disin- 
terested generosity, more frequent and illustrious examples. * * From 
his private benevolence, a thousand families received their daily bread ; 
and there is perhaps no individual in history, who has expended a more 
ample fortune in promoting the liberties of his country." — Biographia 
Americana. 

He died at Boston, October 8th, 1793. 

January 12th, 1745. Henry Pestalozzi born at Zurich, Switzerland. 

He died February 17th, 1827. 

'"He held that education stood for character as well as for the 
acquirement of knowledge ; Froebel (Friedrich Wilhelm August) founder 
of the Kindergarten was his friend, and Horace Mann the founder of the 
American Common School System, was a disciple of his work." 



14 LIBKRTY PRIMER 

January 13th. 1808. Salmon P. Chase born in New Hampshire. 

Graduated at Dartmouth College 18-26. Taught school in Washing- 
ton, admitted to the Bar in 1830. Solicitor at Cincinnati for the United 
States Bank in 1834. He became noted for his opiKwition to slavery, the 
fugitive slave law, and the acts of 1793 and 1787. In February, 1849 he 
■was Senator from Ohio, and in 1855 elected Governor, reelected in 1857, 
On the election of Mr. Lincoln he was appointed Secretary of the Treasury 
which he held until June 30th, 1864. On the death of Roger B. Taney 
he was appointed Chief Justice of the United States in October, 1864. 
He was stricken with a paralytic stroke in 1870 from the effects of which 
he never recovered. He died in New York City, May 7th, 1873. 

January 17th, 1706. Birth of Benjamin Frank/in, the son of Jonas Frank/in, 
a tallow-chandler, and of Abiah Folger, a daughter of Peter Folger, the 
poet, at Boston. 

He died at Philadelphia, April 17th, 1790. 

" At his death, in 1790, he was spoken of by two great French- 
men, Mirabeau and Turgot, as the ' sage whom two worlds claim as 
their own, ' and as having ' snatched the lightning from the skies, and 
the scepter from tyrants. ' " 

Franklin's Moral Code : 

Silence. — Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself ; avoid 
trifling conversation. 

Order. — Let all your things have their places ; let each part of your 
business have its time. 

Resolution. — Resolve to perform what you ought ; perform with- 
out fail what you resolve. 

Industry. — Lose no time; be always employed in something use- 
ful, but avoid all unnecessary actions. 

Sincerity. — Use no hurtful deceit ; think innocently and justly ; 
and, if you speak, speak accordingly. 

Justice. — Wrong no one by doing injuries, or omitting the benefits 
that are your duty. 

Moderation. — Avoid extremes ; forbear resenting injuries. 

Tranquillity. — Be not disturbed about trifles, or accidents common 
or unavoidable. 

Humility. — Imitate Jesus Christ. 

Cleanliness. Frugality. Temperance. 

January 17th, 1781. Battle of Cowpens, Spartanburgh County, S. C. 

Lord Cornwallis sent Lieut. -Col. Tarlton, with 1,100 men, to drive 
out Morgan, who had been sent by Gen. Green to the western extremity 
of South Carolina. Tarlton had two field pieces and a superior force of 
both infantry and cavalry. On the 16th he arrived on the ground that 
Morgan had left a few hours before. At 2 a.m. he resumed his march, 
and by daylight he saw the detachments of Morgan in front. Morgan 



LIBERTY PEIMEE 15 

waited for him in a wood free from undergrowth. Tarlton led the 
attack himself The American militia received the attack with firmness, 
but were compelled to fall back in the rear of their second line, and this 
line in their turn, after an obstinate conflict, was compelled to retreat to 
the cavalry. At this juncture Lieut. -Col. Washington made a successful 
charge on Capt. Ogilvie, who, with forty dragoons, was cutting down the 
retreating militia. Lieut. -Col. Howard, almost at the same moment, 
rallied the Continental troops and charged with fixed bayonets, the 
militia following his example. These unexpected charges threw the 
British into confusion, and they were driven from the ground, giving the 
Americans a complete victory. Tarlton fled, leaving his baggage and 
artillery in the hands of the victors, and losing 300 killed and wounded 
and 500 prisoners, while the American loss was but 12 killed and wounded. 
' ' Seldom has a victory, achieved by so small a number, been so 
important in its consequences. It deprived Comwallis of one-fifth of his 
force, and disconcerted his plans for the reduction of North Carolina." — 
John Howard Hinton. 

January 17th, 1852. The Sand River Convention signed. 

The Cape Colony Boers from 1833 to 1837 commenced an exodus 
which was known as the "Great Trek." In 1836 some thousands had 
crossed the Vaal, and reached the ' ' Trans Vaal ' ' country beyond, 
which at that time was under the sway of Moselkatze, a Zulu refugee. 
Some of the emigrants were massacred, and the Boers under Maritz and 
Potgieter attacked and defeated Moselkatze at Mosega in 1837. The 
Zulu chief the next year withdrew and founded the Matable State, 
between the Vaal and the Zambezi, leaving the region between the Vaal 
and the Limpopo virtually in the hands of the Teckkers. On the east 
the Boers were attacked by Dingaan, and a division of emigrants who 
had crossed the Buffalo under Peter Retief were massacred in 1833. The 
Teckkers were however saved by Andries Pretorious of Graaff Reinet 
who checked Dingaan towards the close of 1838 and followed by a 
crushing defeat in 1840. The British occupation of the Territory in 
1843, induced the Boers to retire in two bands across the Drakenberg, 
the southern division settling in the present Orange Free State, and the 
northern passing into the Transvaal. Pretorious and Potgieter could not 
agree in the establishment of a government, and the Transvaal was a 
failure until Pretorious induced the British Government to sign the 
Convention at Sand River, which virtually secured the independence of 
that region. Pretorious and Potgieter both died in 1853, and Marthinus 
Wersels Pretorious eldest son of Pretorious was made the first President 
of the Dutch African Republic whose title was in 1858 altered to South 
African Republic. 

January 18th, 1736. Rev. Phillips Payson, D.D., born at Walpole, Mass. 

He commanded a party of militia and attacked the British who were 
removing and taking away stores and provisions at Monotomy, recaptured 



16 LIBERTY PKIMKR 

the stores and disarmed the troops without loss. This action was on 
April 19th, 1775, and was in fact a part of the battle of Lexington. 

'' Daring the struggle for liberty Dr. Payson boldly advocated the 
cause of his countrj'. As a classical scholar, he rose to distinction, and 
many young men received the rudiments of their education from him. 
As a minister, he was a friend and father to his people, and he preached 
with energy of diction, and pathos of delivery." 

January 20th, 1726. Col. William Prescott born at Groton, Mass. 

He served with such honor and distinction in the French and Indian 
Wars that he was tendered a commission in the British array, which he 
declined, but in 1774, when it became apparent that hostilities would 
take place, he Avas put in command of a regiment of minute men. In 
June, 1775, he went to Charlestown and fortified Bunker Hill, but during 
the night he changed his position to Breed's Hill, which he also fortified, 
having under him a brigade of perhaps a thousand strong. Warren and 
Putnam both reported for service ; both of these men outranked Prescott. 
Warren refused to take command, and upon Prescott appears to have 
rested the responsibility. On June 17th General Gage, with 2,000 
regulars, attacked the position. The Americans waited until the British 
were close upon the breastworks before delivering their fire ; when they 
did, the British recoiled in confusion, a second attempt had a like result, 
and a third was made. By this time the ammunition of the Americans 
was gone, they had but one volley, and when this was gone, the regulars 
swarmed over the breastworks to meet a hand to hand encounter, and 
the Americans fled down the hill and across the Neck to Cambridge, the 
English ships raking them with grape-shot as they ran. Prescott was 
the very last to leave the hill, and he wished to undertake its recapture, 
saying that he could do so if reinforced. This action proved that the 
Colonists were able to cope with the best that England could send against 
them. Though defeated the Americans were victorious. 

Prescott remained with the army for about two years when he 
resigned, but he joined as a volunteer and was present at Saratoga in 
1777, after which he returned home. He served in the Massachusetts 
Legislature for several years. He died at Pepperell, Mass., October 
13th, 1795. 

January 20th, 1732. Birth of Richard Henry Lee, in Westmoreland 
County, Va. 
He is said to have originated, in 1773, the plan for an inter-colonial 
or Continental Congress, which was carried into effect the next year. On 
June 7th, 1776, upon the instructions of the House of Burgesses of 
Virgiaia, he introduced into Congress the resolutions declaring "that 
the united Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent 
States, that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British crown, 
and that all political connection between them and the State of Great 
Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved. ' ' 



LIBERTY PRIMEK 17 

{Note. — This resolution originated in the Virginia Convention that 
met at Williamsburgh, and was reported to that body by Archibald Gary 
May 15th, 1776.) 

He died at Chantilly. Westmoreland County, Va., June 19th, 1794. 

** He died as he lived, a blessing to his country." 



January 20th, 1734. Birth of Robert Morris, at Manchester or at Liverpool, 
England. (Both places are given. ) 

He came to America with his father at the age of 13, and at the 
age of 15 began a regular apprenticeship in the counting-room of Charles 
Willing, of Philadelphia. 

Appointed to the Second Congress by Pennsylvania, 1775, reelected 
in 1776, 1777 and 1778. 

Appointed by Congress "Superintendent of Finances" in 1781, 
Eesigned September 30th, 1784. 

Member of the Constitutional Convention of 1787. 

Died at Philadelphia, May 8th, 1806. 

* ' No man had more numerous concerns committed to his charge, and 
few to a greater amount ; and never did any one more faithfully dis- 
charge the various complicatad trusts with greater dispatch. " — Biographia 
Americana. 



January 26th, 1837. Michigan admitted to the Union. 

The thirteenth State admitted. The " Wolverine State." The Lake 
State. Originally part of the Northwest Territory, then of Indiana 
Territory, from which Michigan Territory was constituted in 1805. 



January 29th, 1761. Albert Gallatin born at Geneva, Switzerland. 

He was left an orphan when nine years old, he had a thorough 
education, graduating in 1779. He emigrated to the United States in 
1780, and commenced business in New England, but his concern failed, 
and he entered Harvard as a teacher of the French language. After this 
be went to Virginia and then to Pennsylvania. In 1793, he was elected 
to the United States Senate but the election was annulled on account of 
his defective citizenship. He took an active part in the Whiskey 
Rebellion. In 1795, he was elected to Congress and held his seat for five 
years until 1801 when he became Secretary of the Treasury under 
Jeflferson. This office he held for twelve years. In 1812, he became 
Commissioner to Europe, and in 1816 was made Minister to France, 
remaining in office until he was transferred to the Court of St. James in 
1826. He returned to the United States in 1828. He died at New 
York, August 12th, 1848. 

He said "a man who has had the direction of the finances of his 
country as long as I have should not die rich." 



18 LIBERTY PRIMEE 

January 29th, 186 f. Kansas admitted to the Union. 

The twenty-lirst State admitted. The Garden of the West. The 
Garden State. Named from tlie Kansas river, (Indian "Smoky water. " ) 

Part of the Louisiana purchase, except the southwestern portion, 
which was ceded by Texas in 1850. It formed a part of Missouri Terri- 
tory until 1821, after which it remained unorganized until 1854, when 
the Kansas-Nebraska Bill created the Territory of Kansas, including 
what is now a part of Colorado. 

January 31st. 1713. Anthony Benezet born at St. Quentins, France. 

His family were Huguenots, became Quakers and settled in Phila- 
delphia. He became a teacher, and continued in a similar occupation 
all bis life. During the last two years of his life, his zeal to do good 
induced him to resign the school which he had long superintended, and 
to engage in the education of colored people. So great was his sympathy 
with every being capable of feeling pain, that he resolved toward the 
close of his life to eat no animal food. He employed his pen both night 
and day in writing religious and philanthropic works. His publications 
contributed largely towards the prohibition of the African Slave Trade. 
At his funeral many hundred negroes followed him to the grave in tears. 

He said "The highest act of charity in the world is to bear with the 
unreasonableness of mankind. " "Few men, " says Benjamin Rush, "since 
the days of the apostles, lived a more disinterested life. And yet upon 
his death bed, he said he wished to live a little longer, that 'he might 
bring down self.' " 

February 3d, 1811. Horace Greeley born at Amherst, N. H. 

Apprenticed at the age of fourteen to the publishers of Northern 
Spectator, Poultney, Vt. The paper failed in 1830. 

After working at Erie for a while, he went to New York in 1831, 
with all his belongings tied up in a handkerchief. Here he worked in a 
newspaper office. With Jonas Winchester he started a printing office in 
1833, and in 1834 began the New Yorker., which it was said was a " liter- 
ary success but a financial failure." During 1838-39 he was at Al])any, 
where he edited a campaign paper for William H. Seward and Thurlow 
Weed, called The Jeffersonian, and also on his own account The Log Cabin, 
which was successful. The New York Tribune began April 10th, 1841, 
with H. J. Eaymond as chief assistant until 1843. In 1848 Mr. Greeley 
was elected to Congress ; 1867, Delegate at Large to State Constitutional 
Convention. He signed the bond as one of Jefferson Davis's bail. In 
1872 he was nominated for the presidency, receiving 2,834,079 votes 
against 3,597,070 for U. S. Grant. 

He died at Pleasantville, Westchester County, N. Y.. November 
29th, 1872. 

" The very imperfections of Greeley's early studies had a compensa- 
tion in the fact that they left him in all the tendencies and habits of his 
mind an American. No foreign mixture of thought or tradition went intp 



LIBERTY PRIMER 19 

the composition oi his strong intelligence. Of all great luer. who have 
become renowned on this side of the Atlantic, he was the most purely 
and entirely the product of the country and its institutions. Accordingly, 
a sturdy reliance on his own conclusions and a readiness to defy the world 
in their behalf, were among his most strongly marked characteristics." — 
C A. Dana. 

February 5th, 1631. Roger Williams arr-ved at Boston. 

He was born of either Welsh or Coruish parents, about the year 159'», 
but there appears to be no record either of his birth or of his death. He 
■was said to have been 84 years old when he died. He was educated at 
an English University, and after arriving at Boston was made pastor of a 
church at Salem. On account of his views he was banished from Massa- 
chusstts. With five companions he fled, and on March 24th, 1635, he 
landed at a place which, in token to his gratitude to God, he called 
Providence. Subsequently he got from the Indians a deed of the sur- 
rounding land, which from an apparent resemblance to Rhodes, he named 
Ehode Island. 

*' Eoger Williams was the teacher of Liberty of Conscience, a prin- 
ciple which has found a i)lace in the constitutions of most civilized 
nations and all republics. " 

February 6th, 1778. The Treaty with France. 

A treaty of alliance, amity and commerce, was signed at Paris by 
the French ministry, and by the American Commissioners, Dr. Franklin, 
Mr Deane and Mr. Lee. The news of this event gave great joy iu 
America. By this treaty France acknowledged the independence of the 
United States. 

At the celebration of the first anniversary of this event by Congress 
at Philadelphia, the following toasts were drank : 

1. May the alliance between France and the United States be per- 

petual. 

2. The United States. 

3. His Most Christian Majesty. 

4. The Queen of France. 

5. His Most Catholic Majesty. 

6. The Princes of the House of Bourbon. 

7. Success to our allied armies. 

8. General Washington and the Army. 

9. The friends of Liberty in every part of the World . 

10. May the new constellation rise to the zenith. 

11. May the American Stripes bring Great Britain to reason. 

12. The memory of patriots who have nobly fallen in defence of 

Liberty and Independence in America. 

13. A safe and honorable peace. 

This was the first treaty made by the United States with any foreign 
power. 



20 ' LIBERTY TKIMKU 

February 8th. 1788. Massachusetts, the sixth State to ratify the Constitution. 

The Old Colony. The Bay State. The Old Bay State. One of the 
original thirteen States. 

The Pilgrim Fathers landed from the Mayflower at Plymouth, 
December 21st, 1620. The Massachusetts Colony was planted at Salem and 
Charlestown in 1628, and at Boston in 1630. A new charter, uniting 
Plymouth and Massachusetts, was granted in 1692. Ma.ssachusetts led 
in active opposition to the Stamp Act. The Boston Massacre occurred 
March 8th, 1770. The Boston "Tea Party," December 16th, 1773. 
The Eevolution began at Lexington, April 19th, 1775, and on June 17th 
the Americans, under Prescott and Putnam, though technically beaten, 
gained a decided advantage over the British. 

February 11th, 1735. Daniel Boone born in Bucks County, Penn. 

About 1748 the family removed to Holman's Ford, on the Yadkin, 
S. C. He was a natural hunter, fully equal to the Indian in tracing a scent. 
With a party of six he set out to explore what is now known as Ken- 
tucky, on May 1st, 1769. He was captured by the Indians ; twice he 
escaped. In March, 1771, he returned home. In 1773, with five other 
families and his own, he started for Kentucky. He was joined by about 
forty men, but the party was attacked by Indians and forced to return to 
Clinch River. Lord Dunsmore appointed him to the command of a garri- 
son to resist hostile Indians. He erected a fort at Boonesborough, where he 
settled with his family, which was then ' ' Salt Spring. ' ' Here he sustained 
several sieges, and was once taken prisoner while hunting with his men. 
In 1777 he made an expedition to the Blue Licks, and being captured, 
vas taken to Detroit. His men were given to the British commander, 
but he was retained and adopted by Blackfish, the Shawnee chief. 
Learning that the Indians were planning to attack Boonesborough, he 
determined to warn his comrades. Chased by 450 Indians, he arrived 
after a four days' journey of 160 miles, having had but one meal. He 
then repulsed the Indian attack. 

He was tried by court martial for surrendering, but acquitted and 
promoted to be Major. 1778 he became Lieutenant Colonel in charge of 
Lincoln County, one of three divisions of Kentucky. August 19th, 1782, 
he fought a battle with the Indians at Blue Licks, where one of his sons 
was killed. In 1790 he moved to Point Pleasant on the Kanawha, in 
West Virginia. Here he had a large sum of money stolen from him. 

Kentucky was admitted to the Union February 4th, 1791, and sur- 
veyed. His title to lands was contested, and the case went against him. 

In 1795 he moved to the Femme Osage District of Missouri, then in 
the possession of the Spanish. He was here made commandant, and 
obtained a grant of 8,000 acres of land. 

He died at Charette, Mo., September 26th, 1820. 

"He expired while on his knees taking aim at some object, and he 
was found in that position, with his gun resting on the trunk of a tree. 



LIBERTY PEIMER 21 

The charm of a hunter's life hung around him, and in his eighty-second 
year he went on an expedition in search of the Kansas River. 

February 12th, 1809. Abraham Lincoln born in Hardin County, Kentucky 

Elected the sixteenth President of the United States, November 6th, 
1860. Reelected November 8th, 1864. Shot at Ford's Theatre, Wash- 
ington, and died April 14th, 1865. 

' ' With malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in 
the right as God gives us to see the right, let us finish the work we are 
in, and bind up the nation's wounds, to care for him who shall have borne 
the battle, and for his widow and his orphans, to do all which may 
achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all 
nations.'' — Inaugural Address. 

February 13th, 1890. The Oklahoma Bill passed by the United States Senate. 
*' No-Man's-Land" included in the Territory. The bill passed the 
House of Representatives March 13th, 1890. The Territory was opened 
for settlement April 22d, 1889. 

February 14th, 1859. Oregon the twentieth State admitted to the Union. 

The early Spanish explorers found the wild thyme, and on account 
of the herb named the country "Oregon." The Greek navigator, De- 
Fuca, discovered the coast in 1592, and the Spanish Admiral Fonte in 
1640. Spain for a long time claimed it, but ceded the right to England 
in 1790. In 1792 Captain Robert Gray, of Boston, (who was the first to 
carry the American flag around the world, ) explored the great river, which 
he named after his vessel, "The Columbia." This gave to the United 
States color to an original claim to the valley of that river. France held 
a shadowy title to all the continent west of the Mississippi, north of the 
Spanish possessions, iinder the name of Louisiana. This the United 
States acquired, by the purchase of Louisiana in 1803. Captain Gray's 
report was made the basis of an exploring expedition in 1806, under Cap- 
tains Clark and Lewis. In 1811 the American Pacific Fur Company, of 
which John Jacob Astor was a director, established a trading post at the 
mouth of the Columbia, which was called Astoria. During the War of 
1812, the Northwest Fur Company (afterwards Hudson's Bay Company) 
purchased the property. Their employees planted a garden at Astoria, 
and renamed it Fort George. In 1810 Captain Winship, a New Eng- 
lander, built the first house on the Columbia river. The Revs. Marcus 
Whitman and Henry N. Spalding led a missionary party to Oregon, 
arriving at Walla Walla September 2d, 1836. Whitman realized the 
value of the country and saw the evident design of the Hudson Bay Com- 
pany to obtain it for English occupation. Fearing it might be lost he 
started for Washington across the plains, " to save Oregon to the United 
States," leaving Walla Walla in October, 1842, and in the depth of one 
of the most evere winters riding the long journey. He reached Fort 



22 LIBEETY PKIMEE 

Bent, on the Arkansas river, January 7th, 1843, and then went on to St. 
Louis and to AVashington, where he found the government on the verge 
of transferring the district to Great Britain as a useless waste. He pro- 
cured a stay and in September he led a party of two hundred wagons and 
over one thousand souls as permanent settlers. A provisional govern- 
ment was organized in 1843, and a Territorial Constitution adopted in 
1845. A treaty with Great Britain fixed the boundary in 1846. 

Congress organized the Territory of Oregon on August 14th, 1848, 
and on March 3d, 1849, Joseph Lane, the first Territorial Governor, was 
inaugurated. 

February 15th, 1564. Galileo Galilei born. 

One of the earliest and greatest of the experimental philosophers, was 
born at Pisa, Italy. He was imprisoned by the Inquisition because he 
asserted that the world moved around the sun. He died at Florence, 
January 8th, 1642. 

February 17th, 1815. The Treaty of Ghent, closing the War of 1812-14. 

The Treaty was signed at Ghent on Saturday, December 24th, 1814, 
and ratified by the Prince Regent of England Thursday, December 27th, 
1814. Ratifications were exchanged at Washington on February 17th, 
and the Treaty proclaimed on February 18th, 1815. 

" It is important to the United States to make peace, but it is more 
important to them to preserve their rights as an independent nation, which 
will in no event be surrendered." — From Instructions to the Commissioners- 

February 22d, 1732. George Washington, Father of His Country, born in 
Westmoreland County, Virginia. 

He died after a few hours' illness, December 14th, 1799. 

In the family Bible of the Washingtons, in his mother's handwrit- 
ing, is the following : " George Washington, son of Augustus and Mary, 
his wife, was born ye 11th day of February, 1732, about 10 in the morn- 
ing, and was baptized the 3d April following, Mr. Beverly Whiting and 
Christopher Brooks, Godfathers, and IMrs. Mildred Gregory, Godmother. ' ' 
(At that time the year began on the 25th of March. In 1750, by an act 
of Parliament, it was changed to January 1st. The day following the 
2d of September, 1752, was reckoned the 14th, omitting 11 days. The 
11th of February, 1732, O. S., therefore is equivalent to February 22d, 
1732.) 

" The entire progress of the civilized world for more than a century 
has been shaped by the influence of bis life and precepts." 

February 22d, 1821. Florida ceded to the United States by Spain. 

Ponce de Leon, in search of the " Fountain of Yo«th," landed in 
Florida on March 27th, 1513. 



LIBERTY PRIMER 23 

President Madison, under anthority of the Louisiana purchase, by 
proclamation took possession of West Florida in the name of the United 
States October 27th, 1810. On January 3d, 1811, Congress authorized 
the occupation of East Florida. After a long correspondence, a treaty 
respecting Florida was made, which is known as the Treaty of 1819. By 
this Treaty the United States agreed to satisfy claims of citizens to the 
extent of $5,080,000. On February 13th the President communicated 
the ratification to the Senate, and the final exchange of ratification took 
place at Washington February 22d, 1821. 

February 23d, 1854. The Orange Free State, South Africa. 

The Orange River Sovereignty in South Africa adjoined the British 
Cape Colony and comprised about 70,000 square miles, divided into four 
districts. The executive government was in the hands of a British Resi- 
dent, who presided over a legislative council, composed of resident mag- 
istrates and sundry representatives. On February 23d, 1854, Sir George 
Clark, on behalf of the British government, made over the sovereignty to 
a convention composed of delegates. A republican form of government 
was adopted, the Volkhssana was created, and J. T. Hoffman made the 
first President of the Orange Free State. 

February 24th, 1863. The Territory of Arizona organized. 

It was originally part of the Mexican cession and the Gadsden pur- 
chase. It was separated from New INIexico in 1863. 

February 24th, 1821. Mexican Independence. 

The long smouldering discontent broke out in open revolt on Sep- 
tember 16th, 1810, at Guarrajuato, under the leadership of Don Miguel 
Hidalgo, who was a priest. He had, it is said, at one time a force of 
100,000 men, principally natives. On January 17th, 1811, he was 
attacked and defeated by the Spanish and, on July 30th following, 
executed at Chihuahua. Morelos, also a priest, continued the struggle. 
He raised a force against the Spanish in January, 1812, and in October, 
1813, assembled a National Assembly at ChUpanzinco, wheie a declara- 
tion of independence was signed ; but Morelos was defeated before Val- 
ladolid by Iturbide, December 24th, 1813, and in 1815 shared the same 
fate as Hidalgo. A guerilla war followed until 1820, when Iturbide, 
now "Liberator," led the people, and under whom independence was 
again declared and signed. The same year the capitol was surrendered 
by O'Donoju, the last of the Viceroys. On May 19th, 1822, Iturbide 
became Emperor, and independence was universally acknowledged. 

February 24th, 1891. The Brazilian Constitution. 

The Brazilian Assembly a<lopt a Constitution. Dom Pedro was 
deposed and the Republic proclaimed November 15th, 1889, the Empire 
being converted into a Confederation composed of twenty States. A con- 



24 LIBERTY J'KIMKK 

stitution, subject to ratiticuitiou, was adopted June 22d, 1890, and a 
Congress elected under it on September 15th. This constitution was, 
with some changes, ratified February 24th, 1S91, and Marechal Deodoro 
da Fonseca elected President, and General Floriauo I'eixoto Vice-Presi- 
dent, who were inaugurated on the following day. 

February 25th, 1746. Charles Cotesworth Pinckney born at Char/eston, S. C. 

Graduated at Oxford in England, then studied law, after which he 
remained for a short time at the military school at Caen, in France. 
Returning to America he began the practice of law at Charleston and 
became prominent in politics. He was a member of the first Provincial 
Congress of South Carolina, and in 1775 became the colonel of a provin- 
cial regiment. He was at the capture of Fort Johnson, and the repulse 
of the British Squadron off Fort Moultrie. He was then aid-de-camp to 
Washington, and in this capacity was at Brandy wine and German town. 
On the approach of Clinton to Charleston, he took command of Fort 
Moultrie, which he defended with skill and great bravery. "WTien 
Charleston was reduced he was taken prisoner and detained the remainder 
of the war. On returning home he resumed practice. He was a mem- 
ber of the Constitutional Convention of 1787, and afterwards of the 
South Carolina Convention of 1790. 

In 179G he was sent as Minister to France, where he was received 
•with such discourtesy that he left the country, returning however -with 
Klbridge Gerry and John Marshall as joint commissioners. Talleyrand 
assured the commissioners that a gift of money would be necessary, and 
that in case of its refusal it would bring on war. Pinckney is reported 
to have replied, " War be it, then, millions for defence, sir, but not one 
cent for tribute. " This saying aroused the whole country from Maine 
to Georgia, and on his return there appeared to be grave fears of a war 
with France. He was made a Major-General in 1800. He was with 
John Adams Federalist candidate for the presidency of the United States, 
He died at Charleston, S. C, August 16th, 1825. 

February 25th, 1778. General Jose de San Martin born at Yapeyu, on the 
Uruguay River. 

He entered the Spanish military service. He returned home with 
the rank of Captain, and from the Revolutionary government of Buenos 
Ayres was placed in command of a division with the rank of Colonel. 
He had success at San Lorenzo in 1813. 

He planned with the brothers O'Higgins the liberation of Chili, and 
gained a victory at Chacabuco February 12th, 1817, with a final decisive 
triumph at Maypu, April 5th, 1818. 

Plans were then matured for liberating Peru. The army sailed from 
Valparaiso August 20th, 1820, supported by a squadron under Lord Coch- 
rane. San Martin was declared "Protector of Peru," August 3d. 1821. 
He died :it Boulogne in France, August 17th, 1850. 



LIBERTY PRIMEK 25 

The motto of San Martin was " Seras lo que debesser." "Thou 
must be what thou oughtest to be. ' ' 

He was the real father of South American Republicanism ; he was a 
true man, a Washington. 

February 26th, 1802. Victor Hugo born at Bascanon, France. 

He is generally known as a great writer, but perhaps he was one of 
the most ardent republicans that France has ever produced. He was the 
" idol of the Paris and French people and retained his health until within 
a few days of his death, which occurred May 22d, 1885, at Paris." "No 
French writer succeeded so well in so many lines of art, and no French- 
man ever attained such unbounded popularity during life, or was followed 
to the grave by such a concourse of mourners." 

February 27th, 1844. The Dominican Republic. 

The most remarkable events and notable hero&s of the Dominican 
Eepublic : 

" February 27th, 1844, National Independence, God, Country, 
Liberty. 

"Juan Pablo Duaxte, founder of Dominican Nationality, born Janu- 
ary 26th, 1813 ; died July 15th, 1876. 

"Francisco del R. Sanchez, hero of the Independence of February 
27th, 1844 ; bom in 1816 ; shot on 4th of July, 1861, while defending 
the integrity of the country, which had been sold to the Spanish govern- 
ment on the 18th of March, 1861. 

" Juan Yridro Perez, propagator of the idea of independence ; born 
in 1818 ; died insane, 1868. 

" Romon Mella, hero of the 27th of February, 1844 ; born in 1816, 
25th of February ; died in 1864. 

" Pedro Pina, a worthy collaborator of Duarte, bom in 1821 ; died in 
1870. 

"August 16th, 1863, Independence and restoration of Dominican 
nationality against the Spaniards." — From the Supreme Council of SSds of 
the Dominican Eepuhlic, by Eugenie de Marchena, Gr. Sec't; Gen. 

February, 1790. The United States Supreme Court sat for the first time. 

The following are the Chief Justices : 

John Jay, of New York, apijointed by Washington, September 26th, 
1789. 

Oliver Ellsworth, of Connecticut, appointed by Washington, March 
4th, 1796. 

John Marshall, of Virginia, appointed by John Adams, January 
31st, 180L 

Roger B. Taney, of Maryland, appointed by Jackson, March 15th, 
1836. 



20 LIBERTY PRIMER 

Salmon P. Chase, of Ohio, apjxnnted by Lincoln, December 6th, 1864. 
Morrison I>. Waite, of Ohio, apiwintcd l)y Grant, .Tune 21st, 1874. 
Mellville W. Fuller, of Illinois, appointed by Cleveland, 1888. 



March 1st. 1845. The State of Texas. 

Lone .Star State. Settled by the French, who were driven out by 
the Spanish in 1690. 

The Louisiana purchase was made May 2d, 1803, after which large 
numbers of citizens from the United States emigrated to Texas. 

Mexico declared its independence February 24th, 1821, when Texas 
and Coahuila were created as a State. 

In 1827-1829 overtures were made by the United States to purchase 
Texas, and various offers were made, ranging from $1,000,000 to 
$5,000,000. 

In 1830 Mexico established a military government in Texas, which 
was followed in 1833 by a declaration of Independence by the Texans, 
and war, which was finally terminated in the defeat of Santa Anna at 
San Jacinto, April 21st, 1836. 

In AprU, 1844, John C. Calhoun, Secretary of State, concluded a 
treaty of annexation, including all the territory between the Nueces and 
the Rio Grande. This treaty was rejected by the Senate June 8th, 1844. 

On the 1st of March, 1845, after the election of President Polk, the 
President was authorized by Congress to negotiate a treaty of annexation, 
and a special messenger was dispatched to Texas. On June 18th the 
Texan Congress voted for annexation, and the people ratified it l)y a pop- 
ular vote on July 4th, 1845. 

A resolution to admit Texas to the American Union passed the House 
of Representatives by a vote of 141 to 56, December 16th. This was con- 
curred in by the Senate, by a vote of 31 to 13, December 22d, and on 
December 29th, 1845, Texas was declared to be one of the United States. 



March 1st, 1867. Nebraska admitted to the Union. 

The name is Indian and signifies "Shallow Water." Nebraska is 
the twenty-fourth State. Originally a part of the Louisiana purchase. 
It was first traversed by the expedition under Lewis and Clark in 1805, 
and it was partially explored by Fremont in 1842, but it had no perma- 
nent settlers until the Pacific. Railroad was built. In the winter of 1854 
Stephen A. Douglas, amid much political excitement, succeeded in having 
Congress pass what is known as the Kansas-Nebraska Bill, by the pro- 
visions of which Nebraska became organized as a Territory. It included 
the northeast portion of Colorado, a part of Dakota, Montana and Wyo- 
ming. Its present limits were defined by Act of Congress, April 19, 
1864. By proclamation of the President, Nebraska was declared a 
member of the Union on March 1st, 1867. 



HBEBTY PRIMER 27 

March 2d, 1793. General Sam Houston born near Lexington, Va. 

In early life he wandered to Tennessee and lived among the Cherokee 
Indians. He was a soldier of the War of 1812, an Indian Agent, lawyer, 
district attorney, and Major-General of the militia. 

In 1823 he was elected to Congress, and reelected in 1825. 

In 1827 he was chosen Governor of Tennessee by a majority of 
12,000. 

In 1833 he moved to Texas and in 1835 was Commander-in-Chief of 
the Texan army. 

On April 21st, 1836, he secured the independence of Texas by a 
decisive victory at San Jacinto, defeating and making Santa Anna a 
prisoner. 

On October 22d, 1836, he was inaugurated President of Texas, and 
on December 13th, 1841, he entered upon his second term. 

Texas became a member of the American Union on December 29th, 
1845, when he was made United States Senator, and reelected in 1852. 

Elected Governor of Texas in 1859, holding the ofiice until the ordi- 
nance of secession was adopted, when he resigned. 

He died at Huntersville, Texas, July 25th, 1863. 

" He resisted secession from its inception, and it is an interesting 
incident in his life, and in the history of his country, that of his riding 
close beside the carriage in which sat Lincoln and Buchanan on the day 
of the inauguration of the former, guarding the President-elect from the 
possibility of assassination — which was even then threatened, as it was 
afterwards consummated. The picture of this stalwart old man, nearly 
three score and ten, armed and watchful, guarding the person of Abraham 
Lincoln, is one that deserves to be perpetuated in American history." 

"The hero of San Jacinto was above all things, an able soldier, 
wary, intrepid, and resolute ; but he possessed as a legislator the quali- 
ties of rare foresight, cool determination, and fearless candor.'' 

March 2d, 1867. Department of Education Established. 

Educators, political economists and statesmen felt the need of some 
central agency by which the general educational statistics of the country 
could be collected, preserved, condensed, and properly arranged for dis- 
tribution. This need found expression finally in the action taken by the 
National Educational Association in convention at Washington in Feb- 
ruary, 1866. From this convention a memorial was presented to Congress 
asking for the creation of a Bureau of Education. The memorial was 
presented to the House of Representatives by General Garfield February 
14th, 1866, with a bill for the establishment of a national bureau. The 
bill was amended providing for a Department of Education in place of 
Bureau, and thus altered it passed. The iienate passed it without altera- 
tion March 1st, 1867, and the President signed it on the following day. 
On July 28th, 1868, an act was passed which took effect June 30th, 1869, 
which abolished the Department of Education and established the office 
of Commissioner of Education in the Department of the Interior. 



28 LIBERTY PRIMER 

March 3d, 1845. Florida admitted to the Union. The Peninsular State. 

East and West Florida were joined in the Territory of Florida in 
1822, having been acquired by purchase from Spain by the Treaty of 
1819. A long and expensive war was necessary with the Seminole 
Indians in order to secure Florida, which lasted until 1842. 

March 3d, 1862. Serfdom in Russia abolished. 

The rural population of Russia consisted : 1, Serfs ; 2, Free agricul- 
tural laborers ; 3, Peasants, who are small farmers or cottiers, and mem- 
bers of the commune. The causes of slavery or serfdom were : 1, Cap- 
ture'in war ; 2, The sale of poor freemen by themselves ; 3, The sale of 
insolvent debtors, and of certain criminals. 

After the Crimean War the Tzar Alexander II. created a secret com- 
mittee to study the subject of the emancipation of the serfs. The Lithu- 
anian nobles at this time expressed a desire that the relations between 
the serfs and their masters .should be revised. A circular was prepared 
and transmitted to all the governors and marshals throughout the empire 
where there were serfs, informing them of the expressed wish of the 
Lithuanians. In 1858 a committee was created in nearly every province, 
and from the schemes prepared by these committees a general plan was 
developed, to carry out which the government appointed a Special Impe- 
rial Commission. There was opposition on the part of some of the 
nobility, l}ut the plans were matured and became law, and by it serfdom 
in Russia was abolished, (February 19th-March 2d, 1861,) by which it is 
said 32,000,000 men became free. 

March 4th, 1789. Commencement of the New Government. 

Notwithstanding the opposition made to it, the Federal Constitution 
soon obtained the assent of all the States save two — Rhode Island and 
North Carolina. New York is said to have acceded chiefly from fear of 
being excluded from the Union ; and, in consenting, she had demanded 
a new convention to make amendments in the act. Even Virginia 
thought it necessary to propose alterations. She required a declaration 
of rights, and the limitation that the President should be but once re- 
elected. The discussion concerning these points of difference occupied 
the year 1788, after which the Constitution was generally accepted, and 
the grand point of federal union achieved. 

The 4th of March, 1789, was the time appointed for the commence- 
ment of the new government. So wanting, however, were many of the 
States, or their representatives, in zeal, that three weeks elapsed before a 
full meeting of both houses could be procured. At length the votes for 
President and Vice-President were opened and counted in the Senate, 
when it was found that George Washington was unanimously elected 
President, and John Adams, having the second number of votes, was 
elected Vice-President. — FrosVs History of United States. 



LIBEKTY PRIMER 29 

March 4th, 1791. Vermoni admitted to the Union. 

The Green Mountain State. The first State admitted to the Union. 

Originally settled by colonists from Massachusetts, 1732. The terri- 
tory was claimed both by New Hampshire and by New York. In 1777, 
a convention wa^ held which declared it independent of both. The 
claims of New York were settled by the payment of $30,000 in 1790. By 
an act of Congress, to take effect March 4th, 1791, Vermont was admitted 
to the American Union as a State. 

March 13th, 1775. First Bloodshed of the Revolution, East Westnninster, \ft. 
In 1774-75 the Whigs and Tories were about equally divided, the 
judges and the juries being appointed by the king. The British authori- 
ties attempted to hold court in the court-house, then standing about forty 
rods north of the cemetery. The colonists were bound that no court 
should be held, so they armed themselves and drove the court from the 
court-house. In return the British troops attacked the colonists and a 
man named WiUiam French fell dead from the fire of the soldiers, and 
Daniel Houghton was mortally wounded. In 1872 the State of Vermont 
appropriated $600 for a monument, which stands about six feet from the 
place where French was buried. A small slab stands to mark the exact 
spot, and on it is the following inscription : 

In memory of William French 

Son of Nathaniel French , 

Who was shot at Westminster 

March ye 13th 1775, 

by the hands of Cruel Ministerial tools of George ye 

3rd 

In the Courthouse at 11 a clock at Night 

In the 22nd year of his age 

Here William French his body lies. 

For murder his blood for Vengeance cries. 

— From an old newspaper scrap. 

March 15th, 1820. Maine admitted to the Union as the tenth State. 

The Pine Tree State. The Lumber State. 

In 1623 Sir Ferdinand Gorges, John Mason and some others, having 
obtained a patent from the Plymouth Company, sent a few persons from 
England to begin a settlement. In 1630 thirty-five persons in the town 
of Exeter established a civil government. In 1652 Massachusetts pur- 
chased from the heirs of Gorges all their claims for $5,334, and it was 
annexed to Massachusetts under a charter from William and Mary, in 
1691. 

In 1819 the Legislature submitted to the people the question of sepa- 
ration, which was decided by a large majority. The act of Congress of 
March 3d, to take effect March 15th, 1820, admitted Maine as a member 
of the American Union. 



30 LIBERTY PRIMEB 

March 21st. 1806. Benito Pablo Juarez born at Ixtlan. Oaj'aca. Mexico. 

He was ol'l'uU ludiaii ))1oik1. He had a good edutatiou, studied law 
aud began practice in 1834. In 1832 he was a member of the State Leg- 
islature. In 184G was one of the Triumvirate of his native State and 
Deputy in the Republican Congress. In 1847 to 1S52 was the Governor 
of Oajaca. In lsr)3 Santa Anna banished him, but in 1855 he returned 
to Mexico, joining the forces of Alvarez, who, after the defeat of Santa 
Anna, made him Minister of Justice. 

Comonfort succeeded Alvarez, and Juarez became President of the 
Supreme Court and Minister of the Interior in December, 1855. 

In February, 1858, Zuloaga replaced Comonfort (it is said unconsti- 
tutionally,) and by virtue of his office as Chief Justice Juarez claimed 
the Presidency. 

In 1861 he defeated the unconstitutional party, and Congress duly 
elected him (January 19th) President. 

In July, 1861, he issued a decree suspending for two years all pay- 
ments of public debts. This led to the landing of English, Spanish and 
French troops in Mexico. The first two powers withdrew, but France 
declared war in 1862, and on May 28th, 1864, Maximilian landed at Vera 
Ciuz and was declared Emperor. Juarez, however, maintained an obsti- 
nate resistance, and Maximilian was obliged to endure a siege at Quere- 
taro, in 1867, until May 15th, when he was captured. Maximilian, with 
two of his generals, was shot June 19tb, 1867. 

In August, 1867, Juarez was again elected President, and in 1871 re- 
elected. He died of apoplexy, at the city of Mexico, July 18th, 1872. 

March 24th. 1636 (?) Rhode Island Founded. 

In 1635 the general court pronounced against him (Roger Williams) 
to sentence him to exile. Winter was at hand, Williams obtained per- 
mission to remain until spring. It was resolved to remove him to 
England, and in a ship just ready to sail. In January, 1636, a warrant 
was accordingly sent to him to come to Boston and embark. For the first 
time he declined the summons of the court. A pinnace was sent for him ; 
the officers repaired to his house ; he was no longer there. Three days 
before he had left Salem, in winter snow and inclement weather. "For 
fourteen weeks he was sorely tost in a bitter season, not knowing what 
bread or bed did mean." He began to build or plant at Seekonk, but, 
says Williams, ' ' Governor Winthrop privately wrote me to steer my 
course to the Narragansett Bay, encouraging me from the freeness of the 
place from English claims or patents. I took his prudent notion as the 
voice of God." In June the lawgiver of Rhode Island, with five com- 
panions, embarked on the stream ; a frail Indian canoe contained the 
founder of an independent State aud its earliest citizens. Tradition has 
marked the spring near which they landed ; it is the parent spot ; the 
first inhabited nook of Rhode Island. To express unbroken confidence 
in the mercies of God, Williams called the place Providknce, "I 



LIBERTY PRIMER 31 

desirfe, " he said, "it might ))e for a shelter for persons distressed for 
conscience." An Indian deed from Canonicus and Miautonomoh soon 
made him undisputed possessor of an extensive domain (March 24th, 
1638). So long as the inhabitants were few, public affairs were trans- 
acted by a monthly town meeting. This first system had its decisive 
influence on the political history of Rhode Island. Had the territory of 
the State been large, the world would have been filled with wonder and 
admiration at the phenomena of its history. — (Abridged from Bancroft's 
History of United States. ) 

March 24th, 1663. North Carolina Founded. 

In 1630 Sir Robert Heath, Attorney -General of Charles I., obtained 
a grant of territory stretching southward from Virginia, from the 30th 
degree of north latitude, by the name of Carolina. He appears to have 
made no settlement and the patent was declared void. Between 1640- 
1650 persons suffering from religious intolerance in Virginia occupied 
that part of Carolina north of Albemarle Sound. Several families 
from Massachusetts settled about Cape Fear. The Earl of Clarendon 
and a company of English noblemen received a charter from Charles 
II. "The charter empowered them to create and publish any laws 
which they should judge necessary with the assent and advice and 
approbation of the freemen of the colony ; to create courts of judica- 
ture, and appoint judges, magistrates, and oificers." . . . One of 
the provisions of this charter deserves particular attention. The King 
authorized the proprietors to alio w the inhabitants of the province such 
indulgence and dispensations in religious affairs as in their discretion 
should be proper and reasonable ; and no person to whom such liberty 
should be granted was to be molested, punished, or called in question, 
for any differences in speculative opinions with respect to religion, pro- 
vided he disturbed not the ci^^l order of the community. The reason 
given for such a dispensing power is " that it might happen that several 
of the inhabitants could not, in their private opinions, conform to the 
exercise of religion according to the litany and ceremonies of the Church 
of England." The proprietors held their first meeting in May, 1663, 
and agreed upon plans. The chief magistrate was called the Palatine, 
and there was a hereditary nobility under the Constitution, which was 
prepared by the celebrated John Locke. This Constitution was abolished 
in 1693. 

March 27th, 1634. Maryland Founded. 

Lord Baltimore (Cecil Calvert), his two brothers, with twenty other 
gentlemen. Father White and one or two Jesuit missionaries, and between 
two and three hundred laboring men, embarked on the " good ship Ark," 
of 300 tons, and a pinnace called "The Dove," of about 50 tons on 
November 22d, 1633. They arrived at Point Comfort, Va., February 
24th, 1634, where they remained a week, after which they sailed up the 
Potomac. At the Indian village of Piscataqua, nearly opposite Mount 



32 LIBERTY PRIMER 

Vernon, /hey found Henry Fleet, an Englishmiin, who proved Bervieeable 
as an interpreter. Going down the river they entered a branch now 
called the St. Marys, and landed at the Indian village of Yoacomoco. At 
this place a treaty was made vdth the Indians and the lands purchased. 
On Marcli •2r)th a Jesuit priest "said mass," which had never l»een cele- 
brated in that region before. They placed a cross hewn from a tree, and 
erected it "as a trophy to Christ, the Saviour, while the litany of the 
holy cross vras chanted humbly on their knees." On the 17th the emi- 
grants, of whom the larger part were Protestants, took quiet possession 
of the land which the governor had bought. The Indian women taught 
the wives of the new comers to make bread of maize ; the warriors of the 
tribe instructed the huntsmen how rich were the forests of America in 
game, and joined them in the chase. Nor did the planters cease in the 
endeavor to remove all jealousy out of the minds of the natives, and at 
last they were able to settle with them a very firm peace and friendship. 
— Bancroft's History of the United States. 

March 31st, 1854. The Treaty with Japan. 

In the spring of 1849 it came to the knowledge of Commodore Geis- 
inger that some American sailors were imprisoned in Japan, and Com- 
modore Glynn was dispatched to Nagasaki to liberate them. This he did, 
and on returning he laid before the President reasons why he thought it 
to be " a favorable time to enter upon negotiations with Japan." The 
Dutch up to this time had the monopoly of the trade. Mr. Webster, the 
Secretary of State, instructed Commodore Aulick to proceed to Yedo, 
with a letter from President Fillmore, in his flagship, accompanied by as 
many vessels of his squadron as could be conveniently employed in this 
service, and deliver it to such high officers of the Emperor as might be 
appointed for the purpose of receiving it. The principal object of his 
visit was to arrange for supplies of coal, but he had full ' ' power to nego- 
tiate and sign a Treaty of Amity and Commerce between the United 
States and the Empire of Japan." This was in June, 1851. In Novem- 
ber, 1852, Commodore Perry was sent with an increased naval force. 
"A copy of the general instructions given to Commodore John H. Au- 
lick " was handed him, which he was to consider as in " full force, and 
applicable to his command." He succeeded in concluding a treaty 
March 31st, 1854. 

A convention at Simoda, June 17th, 1857, further extended the 
rights of Americans in Japan. In 1860 the Japanese Embassy visited the 
United States. 



LIBERTY PRIMER 33 

April 2d, 1512. Florida discovered 

Juan Ponce de Leon, a Spaniard, sailed in 1508 on an expedition to 
Porto Kico, which he conquered, and became Governor of the island. 
Although advanced in age, being fility-tveo years old, he sailed from 
Porto Rico in search of a mythical fountain of youth, which was 
supposed to exist somewhere in the Bahamas. Failing to find it, he 
sailed to the west and discovered the mainland on Easter Sunday ( one 
account says. ) Land was probably sighted on Sunday, March 27th, but 
a landing could not be effected until April 8th. This landing was made 
at latitude 30° 8'' some miles north of St. Augustine. 

'The country was in the fresh bloom of spring, the trees gay with 
blossoms, the fields covered with flowers ; from which circumstance, as 
well as from having discovered it on Palm Sunday, ( Pasqua Florida,) he 
gave it the name of Florida." — Washington Irving. 

April 2d, 1743. Thomas Jefferson born at " Shad well," Albemarle County, Va. 

Graduated at William and Mary College ; studied law, and admitted 
to the bar 1767. Member of the House of Burgesses 1769-1774. He 
presented to this body instructions for the Virginia delegates to the 
Continental Congress of 1774. But although they were not adopted, 
they were published under the title of "A Summary View of the Rights 
of British America." 

In June, 1775, he became a member of the Continental Congress, 
and on June 10th, 1776, was made the chairman of a committee of five 
to prepare the Declaration of Independence, which he drafted and which 
vrith a few alterations was adopted and promulgated on the 4th of July 
following. He remained in Congress until 1778, and in 1779 became 
Governor of Virginia, holding the office until 1781. He was then 
associated with Franklin and Adams in completing treaties with 
European powers, returning home in 1789, he was made Secretary of 
State under Washington, which office he held until 1794. In 1796 
he became Vice President of the United States under President Adams. 
In 1800 he was elected President, and in 1804 reelected, after which he 
retired to his estate at Monticello and devoted himself to education, 
founding the University of Virginia in 1819. 

The writings of Thomas Jefferson were published by Congress in 1854. 

In his inaugural in 1801, he said, "Error of opinion may be tole- 
rated where reason is left free to combat it." 

He died at Monticello on July 4th, 1826. 

■'Those who surrounded the deathbed of Mr. Jefferson, report that, 
in the few short intervals of delirium that occurred, his mind manifestly 
relapsed to the age of the Revolution. He talked in broken sentences, 
of the committees of safety, and the rest of the great machinery that 
he imagined to be still in action. One of his exclamations was, ' Warn 
the committee to be on their guard ' ; and he instantly rose from his 
bed, with the help of his attendants, and went through the act of writing 



34 LIBERTY I'RIMKK 

a hurried note. But those intervals were few and short. His reason 
wa.s almo.st oon.stautly uix)n her throne, and the only aspiration he was 
heard to breathe, was a prayer that he might live to see the fourth of 
July. When that daj' came, all he was heard to whisper was the 
repeated ejaculation, ' Nunc Domine Dimittis ' — ' Now, Lord, let thy 
servant depart in peace.' The prayer of the patriot was heard and 
answered."— Om/(0H 0/ WilUavt Wirt, October J9tli, 1S2G. 

April 2d. 1749. David Ramsay born in Lancaster County. Penn. 

At the age of thirteeu he entered Princeton and wa.s graduated later 
with honors. He took the degree of M. D. in 1773, moved to Charleston, 
S. C, and commenced practice. He took an active part in the Revolu- 
tionary struggle and for a while was a surgeon in the Continental Army. 

In 1782 he was elected to Congress, and in 1785 became the Presi- 
dent of that body, presiding over it for a year. 

His first wife was a daughter of John Witherspoon, President of 
Princeton College. His second wife was a daughter of Henry Laurens. 

He is best known as a historian ; he published the following works : 

1785, History of the Revolution in South Carolina. 2 volumes. 

1790, History of the Revolution. 2 volumes. 

1801, A Life of Washington. 

1808, History of South Carolina. 2 volumes. 

He afterwards wrote a history of the United States which was 
completed down to the Treaty of Ghent and piiblished by Rev. Dr. S. S. 
Smith, President of Princeton. 

During the last forty years of his life he employed his leisure 
moments in preparing for the press a series of historical works, which 
were afterwards published under the title " Universal History Ameri- 
canized." 

He was assassinated at Charleston, S. C, May 8th, 1812. 

Apr/l 4th, 1748. Right Rev. William White born at Philadelphia, Penn. 

He was graduated from the College of Philadelphia in 1765 ; studied 
theology in England ; was ordained Deacon by the Bishop of London, 
1770, Priest by the Bishop of Norwich, 1772, and, returning to America, 
he became rector of Christ Church, and St. Peter's Church in the City 
of Philadelphia. In 1777 he became Chaplain to Congress. 

In 1789 he presided over the first Episcopal Convention held in 
America, wrote the Constitution of the Church, and, in connection with 
Bishop Seabury of Connecticut, revised the Book of Common Prayer so as 
to adapt it for the American Episcopal Church. He was elected the first 
Bishop of Pennsylvania in 1786, and consecrated at Lambeth Palace in 
1787. 

He died at Philadelphia, July 17th, 1836. 

"He had a happy combination of intellectual and spiritual qualities 
for the office of Bishop at the organization of the Episcopal Church in 
America. ' ' 



LIBERTY PRIMEE 35 

''He continued to pray for George III. until the Declaration of 
Independence, when he took the oath of allegiance to the United States." 

He said, "I know my danger, and that it is greater for my being a 
clergyman of the Church of England, hut I trust in Providence. The 
cause is just, and I am persuaded will be protected." 

April 5th, 1621. The Return of the Mayflower. 

Among the patches of wild grass which struggle for life in the chok- 
ing sands of the shore are little groups of men and women, looking out 
over the restless ocean. Far out at sea, her sails spread to the breeze, 
creeping slowly but surely from sight, is a vessel. As she dwindles to a 
speck upon the horizon, the watchers on the shore are gazing with tearful 
eyes and longing hearts after the ship. It has been well said that the 
departure of the 3fayflower, leaving this little band of pilgrims on an 
almost unknown shore, " surpasses in dignity, though not in desperation, 
the burning of his ships by Cortez." Through the struggles of that first 
New England winter, she had always been in sight, a refuge and relief 
in any emergency. While the good ship lay in Plymouth harbor, the 
Pilgrims had a hold upon the outer world. But now they saw her 
disappear in the distance, they realized tha°t the last frail link that had 
bound them to kindred and friends in the old world was severed, perhaps 
forever. There they stood upon the bleak and desolate shore, bereaved 
of the sympathy of home, and with none to show them kindness or bid 
them welcome here. Through all the months of their sojourn in this 
strange land, disease had been busy among them and death had reaped a 
harvest. Of the 100 who had landed from the Mayflower less than a year 
before, scarcely 50 remained. * * * There they stand, grave men and 
matrons, hardy youth and pensive maidens, exiled, self-centered, with 
no friends but God and each other. A gloomy picture ? Yes — to human 
view. But how fraught with glorious promise, which the years have 
fulfilled. How brightened by the light of later history of those men and 
women, who bravely accepted peril and discomfort that they might build 
a State with the motto, "Peace and Liberty." In the face of hardships 
innumerable and stupendous, they were invincible, and the secret of 
their strength was this, that in their right hand they held the open 
Bible, in their left the fundamental principles of American Liberty. — 
Rev. Joseph H. Knowles, D.D. 

April 5th, 1818. The Battle of Maypu, or Maipo, Chili. 

The patriot army took position at the farm of Espejo, about three 
leagues from the capitol, and waited for the enemy, who were cautiously 
advancing. On the afternoon of the 3d of April, Osorio crossed the Maipo 
and came to the plains, the flanks and rear of his army constantly harassed 
by jmrties of the patriot cavalry. Skirmishing was kept up during the 
afternoon of the 3d and 4th. On the 5th the Royalist Army took up a 
position on the brow of a hill ; the famous Spanish Burgos Regiment 



36 LIBERTY PRIMER 

occupied the right wing, the Infantos of Don Carlos the left, the Peruvian 
and Conception troops the center. Four squadrons of dragoons Hanked 
the right, a body of lancers the left, with a battery placed on a hill still 
further to the left. The Koyalist lines were about a mile in length and 
confronted the patriot ranks. The left of the patriot columns was 
commanded by General Alverado, the center by Balcarce, the right by 
Las Hares, tlie reserves by Quintana. Each army numbered not far 
from 5,000 troops ; each was led by generals of consummate ability ; but 
the Royalists had the advantage in this, that they had just won an 
important victory (Cancha Rayada,) which had reduced the fine Patriot 
Army to about one-half its original strength. This filled one army with 
enthusiasm, the other with doubt and forebodings. 

The battle began about eleven o'clock by a lively cannonading from 
the patriot battery on the right. Colonel Blanco Encalada commanded 
the artillery, and with this met the enemy's left as it moved down the 
hill. A charge was made upon the four field pieces at the left of the 
Royalists' lines ; these were captured and turned against the foe. The 
battle raged most furiously about the farm house of Espejo. Until the 
close of the day the advantage seemed to be with Osorio ; the center and 
one wing of his army held 4he field, and the defeat of the patriots 
seemed certain. On San Martin's left wing the patriots had been able to 
withstand the Burgos Regiment for some time, but the regiment of 
negroes stationed there at last became confused ; four hundred of them 
were lying dead upon the field. The Burgos Regiment now attempted 
to form itself into a square for a decisive charge ; this broke the Spanish 
lines and threw them into momentary disorder. Colonel O'Brien, a 
gallant Irishman, commanded here a troop of patriot horse grenadiers. 
With them he reinforced the reserves under General Quintana, which 
had been ordered to support this wing. Forming rapidly for a charge, 
O'Brien threw his men so furiously upon the forming regiment of 
Burgos that he dispersed it. This regiment was the flower of Osorio's 
army, and its defeat caused such confusion in the ranks that the patriots 
were able to press their foe at all points. The Burgos troops fled to the 
Espejo farm house ; Las Hares soon overtook the left which had rushed 
to the Espejo. For a while the action was kept up in the center, but 
with both wings beaten back, this part of the royal army gave way and 
retreated with the rest. 

The victory was decisive ; half of Osorio's troops were killed or 
wounded, and the rest taken prisoners ; the patriots lost upwards of a 
thousand men. A stand was made for some time by some troops in the 
farm house, rallied by the brave Ordonez, but they were driven out and 
about five hundred of them killed in the court and adjoining vineyards. 
General Osorio effected his escape, and joined a party of officers and men 
who had fled to Conception, from which place they embarked for Peru. 
There were 280 who escaped in this manner. It was a brilliant and 
decisive victory and established the independence of Chili ; not only thai. 



LIBKRTV PEIMEE 37 

it paved the way for the independence of Peru, for it broke the power 
Abascal had been so long able to maintain there. — A History of ChiH by 
Anson Uriel Hancock, pages 173, 174- 

April 8th, 1731. William Williams born at Lebanon, Conn. 

He was graduated from Harvard in 1751, and in 1756 became Town 
Clerk. He was elected to the General Assembly and was for several 
years Speaker of the House of Eepresentatives. During the Revolution 
he was a member of the Council of Safety whose services were daily 
and unceasing. He was upon the staff of Col. Ephraim and took part 
in the battle at Lake George. 

In 1776 he represented Connecticut in the Continental Congress, and 
was one of those who signed the Declaration of Independence. He was 
again in Congress in 1783-84. In 1780 he was elected Counsellor, and 
annually reelected for twenty-four years. He was a member of the State 
Constitutional Convention. 

He died August 2d, 1811. 

' ' He embarked enthusiastically in the cause of the colonies, and by 
his writings and eloquence, he aroused the feelings of his fellow citizens 
to resist the arbitrary measures of Great Britain and maintain their 
rights." 

April 9th, 1682. La Salle at the mouth of the Mississippi River. 

Toward the close of 1631, La Salle, with a party in canoes, again 
reached the head of Lake Michigan at the present sight of Chicago, and 
making a large portage to the Illinois, descended it to the Mississippi, 
which he followed to its mouth, where he set up a cross and the arms of 
Prance on April 9th, 1682, and "In the name of Louis XIV., King of 
France," formally took possession of the whole country watered by that 
river. The itinerary is as follows : 

La Salle's party floated down the Illinois February 6th, 1682. 

Emerged upon the Mississippi February 24th. 

Encamped at Chickasaw Bluffs and built Fort Prudhomme March 
31st, at the mouth of the Red river. 

At the divergence of three mouths of the Mississippi April 6th. 

Erected at the mouth of the river a monument and cross bearing the 
arms of France, April 9th, 1682. 

* April 10th, 1806. Death of Horatio Gates at New York City. 

He was bom at Maiden, Essex, England, in 1728. He entered the 
English army at an early age, and without purchase rose to the rank of 
major. He was an aide to General Monkton at the capture of Marttnico, 



* Note— When it has been impossible to fix the date of birth of a person 
entitled in the opinion of the Committee to be coiumemorated by having 
their name Included in Liberty Primer and by the ringing of the Columbian 
Liberty Bell, the date of death is taken. 



38 LIBERTY rUIMEK 

and after the peace of Aix-la-Chapelle he was among the first troops 
which lauded at Halifax under Cornwallis. He was shot through the 
body at the time of Braddock's defeat ou July 9th, 1755. When peace 
was declared he purchased an estate in Virginia and went there to reside 
remaining until the breaking out of the Revolution called him to espouse 
the cause of America. Congress appointed him in 1775 Adjutant General. 
He went with Washington to Cambridge, and in June, 1776, took com- 
mand of the army in Cana<la, but was superceded by Schuyler in May, 
1777, but in the following August he relieved that officer in the command 
of the Northern Department. 

On the 17th of October, 1777, at Saratoga, the British forces under 
General Burgoyne, surrendered and piled their arm>s, an event that spread 
great joy throughout the entire country. "His conduct towards his 
conquered enemy was marked by a delicacy which does him the highest 
honor. He did not permit his troops to witness the mortification of the 
British in depositing their arms." 

The surrender of Charleston on May 12th, 1780, to Sir Henry 
Clinton, called for Gates to take the command of the Southern Depart- 
ment on the 13th of June following. On the 16th of August he was 
totally defeated by Lord Cornwallis at Camden. On December 3d he 
was relieved by General Greene, but in 1782 he was restored to his 
command. 

After peace was concluded he retired to his farm at Berkeley, where 
he remained until 1790, when he removed to New York City, first, how- 
ever, emancipating all his slaves and providing for those who were not 
capable of caring for themselves. Some of them, however, would not 
leave, but remained in the service of the family. On arriving at New 
York the freedom of the city was presented to him, and in 1800 he was 
elected to the State Legislature, but he declined to serve when he felt he 
could be no longer " useful in the cause of liberty." 

On February 27th, 1805, he wrote to his friend. Dr. Mitchel, at 
W'ashington, as follows : " I am very weak and have evident signs of an 
approaching dissolution, but I have lived long enough to see a mighty 
people animated with the spirit to be free, and governed by transcendant 
abilities and honor. ' ' 

April 12th, 1879. The South African Republic. [Transvaal.) 

On January r2th, 1852, the "Sand River Convention" gave inde- 
pendence to the Transvaal and the Orange River Sovereignty. On April 
12th, 1877, during the administration of President Thomas F. Burgers, 
and against the will of the people, and the treaty with England. — the 
British Government, through an underhand commission, Sir Theophilus 
Shepstone seized and annexed the Republic. Protests against the act, by 
the Volksraad, Executive Council and the President, and by special del- 
egates, Messrs. Joiibert and Kruger to London — the country being m a 
weakened state, having just finished an exhaustive war with trouble- 



LIBEBTY PEIMEK 39 

some native tribes — were of no avail, and it passed under British adminis- 
tration as the "Transvaal." 

Two years later, on April 12th, 1879, a number of the Transvaal 
burghers, smarting under the thought of their free republic being stolen 
from them, as by a thief in the night, met at Wondertbntein and 
took a mutual oath of allegiance, "that with unity, hand in hand, as 
men and brethren, solemnly promising to be faithful to their country and 
people, and, looking unto God, to work together until death for the 
restoration of the liberty of their Republic. So truly help us, God 
Almighty." A resolution followed this, that in one year hence, the 
burghers would fight to restore the Republic. When the time approached 
a war ensued, and the British forces were badly beaten by the Dutch 
burghers under their commander, General Joubert. 

Soon after, their independence and freedom from British rule was 
again established and so remains. His Honor, S. J. P. Kruger has been 
President of the Republic since the restoration. (From a letter of Charles 
W. Riley, ex-Consul General of the Orange Free State, dated February 
22d, 1894.) 

April 13th, 1829. The Roman Catholic Emancipation Act. 

The passing of this bill by Parliament, which was introduced by Mr, 
Peel, removed' from Roman Catholics most of the disadvantages under 
which they had so long labored. An agitation in Ireland, encouraged by 
O'Connell, did much to forward the measure. 

April 13th, 1813. Stephen A. Douglas, born at Brandon, Vt. 

His fether, who was a physician, died when Stephen was only two 
months old. He lived on a farm until he was fifteen years old, when he 
was apprenticed to a cabinet maker. He went to Canandaigua, N. Y., 
where he went to school and studied law. In 1833 he emigrated to Illi- 
nois. He made part of the journey on foot from lack of money. He 
settled at Winchester and began teaching school. In 1834 he was 
admitted to practice law, and within a year became Attorney-General 
of the state, resigning the office in 1835. He became a member of the 
State Legislature, and in 1837 was appointed Register of the United 
States Land Office, in Springfield, 111., holding the office until 1839, when 
he resigned. In 1837 he ran for Congress, but was defeated. In 1840 he 
was Secretary of State for Illinois ; in 1841, Judge of the Supreme Court, 
but in 1843 he resigned to accept the nomination for Congress. He was 
elected by 400 majority, and reelected for the two following terms. 
He took his seat as United States Senator from Illinois on March 4th, 
1S47. In 1852, and again in 1856, he was an unsuccessful candidate for 
the Presidency. In 1858 he engaged in a political contest with Abraham 
Lincoln for the Senatorship. Douglas carried the Legislature by a small 
majority and gained his seat. 

During the war he gave the strongest support to the Union, and 
during his last illness dictated a letter for publication, in which he de- 



40 LIHEKTY PlilMEH 

clared it the duty of all patriotic men to sustain the Union, the Consti- 
tution, the Government and the Hag against all assailants. 

He was known as " The Little Giant. " His qualities gave him a 
wonderful power over men. He married twite ; in 1847, Martha, 
daughter of Robert Morris, of Rockingham, X. C, and after her death, 
Adele, daughter of James Madison Cutts, of Washington, D. C. 

He died at Chicago, 111., 1861. 

" I believe in my conscience that it is a duty we owe to ourselves, 
our children, and our God, to protect this government and that flag from 
every assailant, be he who he may." — Address to Illinois Legislature, 
April 25th, 1861. 

April 15th. 1598. The Edict of Nantes. 

On August 4th, 1589, Henry IV. became, by the death of Henry III., 
king of the French people. Henry was a Protestant, and the "Cath- 
olics Politiques " in the army stood aloof and disbanded. The Huguenots 
formed the only sound nucleus of his power. In 1593, Henry professed 
Catholicism. On April 13th, 1598, he was at the Castle of Xantes, from 
which place he issued this decree in order to secure to his old friends, the . 
Protestants, the free exercise of their religion. "It was the purest and 
most eiiulgent gem of Henry's crown." 

Louis XIV., at the instance of his wife, Mme. de Maintenon, who 
had been a Protestant, and who was the grand-daughter of Agrippe 
d'Aubigne, the friend of Henry IV., revoked the edict on the 24th of 
October, 1685. The revocation drove nearly five hundred thousand 
Huguenots out of France, many of whom were the best artisans of the 
country. They went to England, Holland, Germany, and America. 

April 18th, 1775. Paul Reveres Ride. 

The daj' before the memorable 19th of April, General Gage began 
preparations for a military expedition. Boats from a war ship were 
launched to carry troops across the Charles river. The movement was 
noticed by the patriots. Companies were massed on the Common under 
the pretence of learning a new military exercise. 

Doctor, afterwards General Warren, who fell at Bunker HiU, at once 
sent Paul Revere, an energetic patriot of Boston, to arouse the country. 
He was sent to notify Hancock and Adams, who were at Lexington, and 
to warn the people of Concord that the troops were coming to destroy the 
military stores collected there. Warren had been informed of the object 
of the expedition. 

Revere only waited to ask a friend to hang out two lanterns in the 
steeple of the Xorth meeting house, as a signal to notity watchers on the 
other side of the river when the troops were in motion, and then rowed 
across the stream to Charlestowu. , He was not a moment too soon. Gen- 
eral Gage heard that his plans had been discovered. Orders were at 
pnce given that no person should be allowed to leave Boston. Had these 



LLBEETY PEIMKB 41 

orders, been given five minutes sooner, the whole course of the Revolution 
might have been changed. As it was, Revere reached the other side in 
safety. He galloped on horseback through the towns, calling up the 
people in every house. He reached Lexington. Hancock and Adams 
were warned. When passing about a mile beyond Lexington a party of 
British officers, who had come out of Boston that afternoon, were seen 
lurking in bye-places in the country until after dark. They stopped 
Revere, who immediately fled, and was pursued for a long distance by an 
officer, who, when he had overtaken him, presented a pistol and cried 
out, "You 're a dead man if you don't stop," but he kept on until he 
had gained a house when, stopping suddenly, he was thrown from his 
horse ; and, having the presence of mind to call out to the people of the 
house, "Turnout! Turn out! I've got one of them." The officer 
immediately retreated as fast as he could. — Hezekiah Butterworth and the 
Pennsylvania Journal of 1775. 

April 18th, 1783. Washington Issues Orders for the Cessation of Hostilities. 

These orders were issued at Newburgh, N. Y. Ou the 11th of April, 
Congress had issued a proclamation announcing the cessation of hostilities. 
A Proclamation of Peace was issued on April 19th, eight years after the 
beginning of the war at the battle of Lexington. 

The army was disbanded on November 3d. 

The Continental Army, it is said, numbered, during the war, 231,791. 
Of these, there were furnished by Massachusetts, 67,907; Connecticut, 
31,989 ; Virginia, 26,678 ; Pennsylvania, 25,678 ; Georgia, 2,679 ; from 
other States, 76,860. Total, 231,791. 

The Treaty of Peace was signed November 30th, 1782. 

Cornwallis surrendered on October 17th, 1781. 

April 19th, 1721. Roger Sherman born at Newton, Mass. 

In 1723 the family moved to Stonington, Conn., where he only had 
the advantages of a country school. He was apprenticed to a shoemaker, 
and he worked in this occupation until he was twenty-two years old. In 
1743 he removed to New Milford, Conn., making the journey ou foot and 
carrying with him his shoemaker's tools ; here he entered into mercantile 
business with his brother. In 1745 he was appointed surveyor of lands 
for the county ; he also furnished the astronomical calculations for an 
almanac published at New York. He devoted his leisure to the study of 
law and was admitted to the Bar in 1754. 

In 1755 he was elected to represent New Milford in the General 
Assembly of Connecticut. In 1759 he was made Judge of the Court of 
Common Pleas in Litchfield County. In 1761 he removed to New Haven 
where he received the same appointment, and became also the Treasurer 
of Yale College, In 1765 Yale College gave him the honorary degree of 
A.M. The next year he was a member of the Upper House of the 
Legislature and Judge of the Superior Court. 



42 LILEETY PEliLEE 

In Angnst, 1774, he was elected a delegate to the Continental Con- 
gress and was present at its opening on September 5th. He was 
appointed with Adams, Franklin, Jeliersou and Livingston to prepare 
the Declaration of Independence. In 1783, associated with Judge 
Richard Law, he revised the Statutes of the State of Connecticut. The 
following year he became Mayor of New Haven, holding the office until 
his death. With Dr. Samuel Johnson and Oliver Ellsworth he was 
chosen delegate to the Constitutional Convention of 17H7. He was also 
a member of the State Convention that ratified the Federal Constitution. 
He wrote a series of articles over the signature of "Citizen " that largely 
influenced its adoption. He was chosen representative to Congress for 
Connecticut, and in 1781 was made United States Senator from his State. 

He died at New Haven, Conn., July 23d, 1793. 

Thomas Jefferson said of him that he was " a man who never said a 
foolish thing." 

Nathaniel Bacon said, " He had more common sense than any man I 
have ever known." 

April 19th, 1775. The Battle of Lexington. 

About ten o'clock Tuesday night it was discovered that the British 
troops were in motion in a very secret manner, embarking in boats that 
had been brought to the low^er end of the Common in the evening. 
Messengers at once started off to warn the country that the people might 
be on their guard. A botly of troops under Lieut. Col. Smith crossed 
the river, landing at Phipp's Farm, and proceeded with great silence to 
Lexington, six miles below Concord. A company of militia, numbering 
eighty men, had mustered near the meeting house ; just at sunrise the 
king's troops came in sight, one or two officers fired their pistols, and this 
was followed by firing from the soldiers ; eight of the Americans were 
killed and nine wounded. The troops renewed their march to Concord, 
where dividing into parties they went directly to the several places 
where the province stores were dejwsited and destroyed miich property. 
About one hundred and fifty militia, who had mustered upon the alarm, 
coming toward the bridge, were fired upon by the troops and two were 
killed, "thus did the troops of Britain's king fire ^rs^ at two several 
times upon his loyal American subjects and put a period to ten lives 
before a gun was fired at them ; our people then returned the fire, and 
obliged the troops to retreat." Reenforcements were sent under Earl 
Percy with two field pieces, who joined the retreating party at Lexington 
and made a stand. At Menotomy a party of militia under the Rev. 
Dr. Phillips Payson attacked a party of twelve who were carrjnng off 
stores, killed one and took their arms and stores without loss. At the 
end of an hour the enemy at Lexington found it necessary to make a 
second retreat, carrying their dead and wounded with them to Charles- 
town, arri^ing at the Neck a little after sunset. Passing over the Neck 
they encamped on Bunker Hill for the night. 



LIBEKTY PRIMER 43 

In- this action the regulars lost 65 killed, 180 wounded and 28 
prisoners. The patriots lost 50 killed, 54 wounded and 4 missing. — 
Pennsylvania Journal of 1775, slightly altered. 

The following officeis and gentlemen were among the killed : 
Justice Isaac Gardner, of Brookline ; Capt. Isaac Davis, of Acton ; 
Capt. Jonathan Wilson, of Bedford ; Lieut. John Brown and Sergt. 
Elisha Mills, of Needham ; Deacon Josiah Haynes, of Sudbury. 
Of the wounded : 

Capt. Eleazer Kingsbury, of Needhara ; Capt. Samuel Williams, 
of Cambridge ; Capt. Charles Mills, Capt. Nathaniel Barrett and George 
Minot, of Concord ; Capt. Oliver Barnes and Deacon Aaron Chamberlain, 
of Chelmsford. — Gordon^s American Revolution. 

By the rude bridge that arched the flood, 

Their flag to April's breeze unfurled. 
Here once the embattled farmers stood 

And fired the shot heard around the world. 

— Ralph Waldo Emerson. 

April 19th, 1780. Grattan's Declaration of Irish Independence. 

Henry Grattan introduced into the Irish Parliament, where he 
took his seat as member in 1775, his famous resolution that the ' ' King 
with the consent of the Parliament of Ireland was alone competent to 
enact laws to bind Ireland, and that Great Britain and Ireland were 
indissolubly united, but only under a common sovereign." The oration 
which he made on that occasion can never be forgotten by those who 
heard it. The language of Milton and Shakespeare can alone describe 
its effects. — Hardy. 

On February 22d, 1782, he brought forward an address to the King, 
declaring the rights of Ireland, and on April 16th, 1782, for the third 
time introduced the "Declaration of Rights," which was this time 
passed by both houses. On May 27th the Duke of Portland announced 
that the ' ' British Legislature have concurred in a resolution to remove 
the causes of your discontentment and jealousies ;" but this Declaratory 
Act was shortl}^ after repealed by the British Parliament. 

When he rose on April 16th to move a Declaration of Rights, he 
began his speech with these words, " Now I am about to address a free 
people." ''So completely did his eloquence rise to what was deemed 
the greatness of the occasion, that the eff'ect has seldom been equaled in 
the annals of oratory ; and in the state of high-wrought excitement that 
prevailed, the government, then doubtfal of the result of the siege of 
Gibraltar by the French and Sjianish, did not dare to refuse the boon 
which had already been appropriated without their permission." 

April 19th, 1825. Uruguayan Patriots land at Boca de Guitierrez. 

The Uruguayans, under Juan Antonio Lavalleja, eft'ected a landing 
for the purpose of freeing their country from the control of Brazil. They 



44 LIBERTY PEIMEE 

met the Brazilimi Army, under General Laguna, on April 2Ud at San 
Salvador, and defeated them. On May '29th, with other forces, Lavalleja 
surprised General Rivera, " who vdth his whole force joined the popular 
side." On October 12th following, Lavalleja gained the victory at 
Saraudi. 

April 21st, 1500. Brazil discovered. 

I'edro Alwarez Cahral, commander of the second Portuguese fleet 
which doubled the Cape of Good Hope, discovered that portion of the coast 
of Brazil now called Espirito Santo. On May 3d he made a landing at 
Porto Seguro. He called the country ' ' Terra da Santa Cruz. ' ' 

April 21st, 1782. Freidrich Wilhelm August Froebel born at Oberweissbach, 
Tburingian Forest. 
His early education was neglected ; left to himself in the forest, he 
began to study, in his own way, nature. He left at the age of seventeen 
impressed with the idea of " the unity of nature, and he longed to study 
the natural sciences that he might find in them various applications of 
nature's universal laws." It was with the greatest difficulty that he 
obtained permission to join his brother at the University of Jena, where 
he remained one year, in which he went from lecture to lecture "seeking 
to find the connection of the sciences, which to him had more interest 
than the science itself." His university course ended ingloriously, by 
his being imprisoned for debt of thirty shillings. He went to Fraukfort- 
on-the-Main where he studied architecture. It was while here that he 
formed the acquaintance of the director of a model school ; he persuaded 
Froebel to throw up his position and begin teaching. He took a post in 
this school and worked there for two years with the greatest success, 
when he retired and undertook the education of the boys of one family. 
Afterwards he went to Yverdon, taking the boys with him, and joined 
the famous institution of Pestalozzi. In 1811 he studied at Gottingen. 
and then at Berlin, and in 1813 served in Lutzow's Corps through 
the campaign, returning in 1814 to Berlin, he became the Curator 
of the Museum under Professor Weiss. In 1816 he went to Greisheim. 
where he first taught his brother's children, and then opened a school, 
which was afterwards transferred to Keilhau ; for fourteen years he 
devoted himself to this work. At the instance of the government of Switz- 
erland he moved to Burgdorf (Bernesetowu) in order to establish an 
orphanage and to superintend a course of traiiling for teachers. He 
found that the children at Burgdorf who were received into the Swiss 
schools were entirely neglected prior to the attainment of the school age, 
that as a consequence the schools were very defective. " The Education 
of Man " appeared in 1826 ; this book is held to be a great book, and 
deals largely with the subject of education before the age of seven years. 
In 1837 he returned to Keilhau and at Blaukeuburg opened his first 



LIBERTY PKIMER 45 

"Kindergarten," but he wiis compelle^l to close it for want of funds. 

He carried on a course of instruction for teachers at Keilhan, Liebenstein, 
and in the Duchy of Meiningen. 

He died at Bad-Liebenstein June 21st, 1852. 

"He originated the name ' Kindergarten ' and called the Superin- 
tendents ' children's gardeners.' He laid great stress on every chUd cul- 
tivating his own plot of ground, but this was not his reason for the choice 
of the name. It Avas rather that he thought of these institutions as en- 
closures in which the young human plants are nurtured. In the Kinder- 
garten the children's employment should be play. But any occupation 
in which children delight is play to them ; and Froebel invented a series 
of employments, which, while they are in this sense play to the 
children, have, nevertheless, as seen from an adult point of view, a dis- 
tinct educational object." 

April 21st, 1802. Louis Kossuth born at Afono/c, Zemplin, Hungary. 

He was educated at the Protestatit College of Scharaschpatack, gradu- 
ated in 1826. In 1830, as agent of the Countess of Szapary, he was a 
member of the comital assembly. At the age of twenty-seven he was a 
member of the National Diet. He began the publication of a report of the 
proceedings of this body on lithographic sheets, until the government 
suppressed them ; then he issued manuscript circulars. For this the 
government prosecuted him for high treason, and in 1839 he was 
sentenced to four years' imprisonment, but after a year and a half of 
confinement he was liberated by an act of amnesty. In January, 1841, 
he was editor of Hirlap at Pesth. In March, 1848, he entered Vienna to 
urge the claims of Hungary, at the head of a deputation. He returned 
to Presburg as the Minister of Finance. The reforms he had advocated 
were now carried out, the feudal system was swept away, the peasants 
declared free, the country undertaking to indemnify the landlords. On 
July 2d, 1848, he was created Governor of Hungary, which office he held 
during the civil war of 1848-49. When Hungarian liberty was crushed, 
he fled to Turkey, reaching Schnmla with Bem, Dembinski, Perczel, 
Cuyon, and some 5,000 men and was appointed a residence at Widdin. 
The refugees were removed to Katahia in Asia Minor, where they 
remained until August 22d, 1851. On September 1st, 1851, he left 
Katahia, touched at Speszia and at Marseilles, and then visited Gibraltar 
and Lisbon, going thence to Southampton. The United States govern- 
ment dispatched the steamer 3Iississippi to bring him to America. He 
sailed for New York on the 21st of November, . where he was received 
with a great ovation. He made a tour of the United States, arousing 
interest in behalf of Hungary, and then returned to England. Here 
he connected himself with newspapers and delivered lectures. In 
1860, Messrs. Day & Son became the defendants in a suit brought by the 
Austrian government for the lithographing of certain bank notes for 
ciiculation in Hungary, which were signed by Louis Kossuth as Gov-- 



46 LIIiElJTY I'UIMEK 

ei'uor. lu November, IdUl, lie published an article in remiicranca (an 
Italiau paper,) respecting the situation in Hungary, and urging Italy to 
war -with Austria. On June Gth, 18G6, he ad\'ised the Hungarians to 
reject the overtures of Francis Joseph. On August 1st, IdGT, he was 
elected deputy lor Witzeu, but decliued to accept the olUce. In Novem- 
ber, 1«79, he lost his rights as a Hungarian citizen, the Chamber of 
Deputies having voted that an uninterrupted residence abroad of over ten 
years deprived a Hungarian of his civil status. This vote was pas.sed 141 
to 52. In 1852 he published the last volume of his memoirs. The cable 
dispatches ( March, 1894,) at this writing bring word that the old patriot 
has joined the illustrious dead. He has lived the last years of his life at 
Turin, suffering from the inlirmities of old age. 

"Kossuth is one of the remarkable men of the nineteenth century, 
and while his life for a generation has not been marked vdth such stormy 
episodes as those of his earlier years, he has remained one of the 
prominent figures of the history of our times." 

Apr/I 21st, 1836. The Battle of San Jacinto. 

The day before the battle, General Sam Houston said to General 
Rusk, " Tomorrow I will conquer, slaughter and put to flight the entire 
Mexican Army, and it shall not cost me a dozen of my brave men." 
Houston made the attack with but 700 men upon a Mexican force under 
General Santa Anna, of 1,800. The Texan cry was, " Remember the 
Alamo." The Mexicans were badly defeated, 630 were killed, 280 were 
wounded, and the remainder including Santa Anna were made prisoners. 
The Texan loss was seven killed and thirty wounded. This battle was 
decisive and secured the independence of the Republic of Texas. 

April 22d, 1744. James Sullivan born at Berwick, Maine. 

He was carefully educated by his father ; he studied law, was 
admitted to the bar, and before the Revolution was ranked as one of the 
most eminent members of the profession. He was the King's attorney 
for Kent county. 

He was a member of the Provincial Congress, and in 1775, sent 
by that body on a mission to Ticonderoga. In 1776, he was with John 
Adams, William Cushing and several others appointed a Judge of the 
Superior Court. He was a member of the State Constitutional Conven- 
tion, and in 1783 represented Massachusetts in Congress, and was one of 
the commission to run the boundary line between Massachusetts and New 
York and to settle their claims to certain western lands ; 1787, mem- 
ber of the Executive Council ; 1790, Attorney-General ; 1796, appointed 
by "Washington to arrange the boundary between the United States and 
the British Provinces ; 1807, Grovemor of Massachusetts. He died whUe 
Grovemor, October 17th, 1808. 

" The great traits of his mind were force, comprehensiveness and 
ardour. Nothing of consequence escaped the fullness and intensity of hia 



LIBERTY PRIMER 47 

thoughts. His arguments were close, clear and strong, not calculated so 
much for parade as to secure conviction. In his administration he was 
wise, upright and impartial. Personal and professional pursuits did not 
wholly engross his care. Letters and science received his aid and en- 
couragement. He was one of the first members of the American Academy 
of Fine Arts, and one of the founders, and President for many years of 
the Massachusetts Historical Society. ' ' 

April 22d, 1884. The African Iniernational Association Recognized by the 
United States. 
The President, in his annual message, recommended the recognition 
of the flag of the Association, and on April 10th a resolution was passed 
by the Senate in executive session concurring in the view taken by the 
President. The injunction of secrecy being removed, Mr. Henry S. 
Sanford, the representative of the Association, made a declaration in 
regard to the objects of the Society, their treaties with the legitimate 
sovereigns of the Congo basin and the Niadi-Kialun and in the adjacent 
territories on the Atlantic. The Secretary of State, Frederick T. Freling- 
huysen, by order of the President and the Senate, announced that orders 
would be issued to officers of our government to acknowledge the flag of 
the Association as that of a friendly nation. 

April 22d, 1889. Oldahoma Opened for Settlement. 

The bill creating Oklahoma passed the United States Senate, February 
13th, 1890. The House, on March 13th, 1890. On March 27th, 1889, 
the President fixed the day for the opening of the Territory for settle- 
ment, "but until the date mentioned no one was permitted to enter it. 
''Boomers" began to gather around the borders in large numbers On 
April Tth they threatened to destroy the railroad bridges leading into the 
Territory. On April 11th a number of settlers from Kansas were per- 
mitted to cross the " Cherokee Strip. " On April 14th disputes respect- 
ing land claims between Texans and Kansans led to bloodshed. On 
April 15th trains heavily loaded with houses, goods, and all necessary 
supplies for a new colony, stood ready at Kansas City waiting for the 
signal for admission. On the 22d (the day for admission), the wildest 
stampede took place over the borders, and thousands began the wild 
scramble for place in securing farms. 

" God ! WTiat a race ; all life merged into arrowy flight ; 

Trample the brother down, murder, if need be so. 
Ride like the wind and reach the Promised Land ere night. 

The Strip is open, is ours, to build on, harrow and sow. 

So, spent and bruised, and scorched, down trail thick strewn with hopes 
Awreck, did the Boomers race to the place they would attain ; 

Seizing it, scot and lot, ringing it round with hopes. 
The homes they had straightly won through fire and blood and pain." 

— Richard Burton. 



48 LIBERTY I'KIMKi: 

'• Okl.ihoma continues to comport herself as if she had been an open 
settlement a hnudretl years, instead of only four. Her latest statLstics 
show nearly '2,-100,000 acres of farm land in use, with a cash value of 
more than ■'?i:], 000, 000. Her farm implements are worth $:]40,000, and 
she ha.s growiuj;; (jh;},000 apple trees, G4(!i, 000 peach trees, G9,000 cherry 
trees, 51,000 pear trees, and a great variety of other fruit trees and vines. 
The whole Territory is adapted lor fruit gromng." — New York Sun, 
February, 1894. 



April 24th. 1704. First Daily Newspaper in the United States. 

In 16()3, Sir Koger d'Estrange established what maj' be perhaps 
considered the first issue of general public information in England. It 
was entitled the Public Intelligencer, and "was continued for three years, 
•when it ceased upon the appearance of the Gazette. In the United States 
the Boston News Letter made its first issue on April 24th, 1704. It was 
twelve inches long by eight inches wide, printed upon a half-sheet of 
paper. It continued publication until 1774. 

1775 there were thirty-seven newspapers in the United States ; in 
1810, 358 ; in 1834, 1,555. 

Rowell reports for 1893 the number of papers published in the 
United States and Canada as 20,954, the total yearly issue being 
3,481,610,000. 

It is estimated that there are about 50,000 newspapers in the world, 
more than half of which are printed in the English language. 



April 25th, 1599. Oliver Cromwell born at Huntingdon, England. 

He was the son of Robert Cromwell, second son of Sir Henry Crom- 
well and Elizabeth Steward. He was educated at Huntingdon Grammar 
School under Dr. Thomas Beard, and on April 22d, 1616, entered Sidney 
Sussex College, Cambridge. He did not graduate, but on the death of 
his father in June, 1617, he left the University. He afterwards studied 
law at Lincoln's Inn, but he remained here but a short time. 

On August 22d he was married at St. Giles' Church, Crupplegate, 
Essex, to Elizabeth, daughter of Sir James Bourchier of Feist ed, and 
returning to Huntingdon, settled down to a quiet farmer's life, in which 
he spent ten years that were uneventful. 

On March 17th, 1628, he entered the House of Commons as a dele- 
gate from Huntingdon. He made his first speech on February 11th, 
1629. "In his Parliamentary course he was more remarkable for his 
business-like habits and energy of character than for the elegance of his 
language or gracefulness of delivery. His appearance and dress, too, 
were plain and unprepossessing." In April, 1640, he took his seat for 
Cambridge, and in the "Long Parliament" that met on November 3d, 
he also sat for Cambridge. 



XITBEKT? PEIMEE 49 

On J^iraaiy 12th, 1642, Charles left Whiletall W return no more 
nintil tlie day (sA' his execution. At this time Cromwell was forty-three 
years ©Id, ""With no knowledge of war, "but much of himself, of men, 
and of tlie ^ble, this stout liinglish squire had made up his mind in nO' 
hasty, factious spirit to dnnv liis sword against his king, and venture hi& 
life for wlaat he believed witli his whole heart and soul to be the cause of 
' freedom and the truth in Christ. ' " In September he received a com- 
mission as Captain of borse from the Earl of Essex, and he gradually 
gatbered around him a regiment of a thousand, whose title, "Ironsides," 
has become famous. From this time until 1646 he signalized himselt, 
especially at Marstom Moor, Newbury and Torrington, and on June 14th, 
1645, Cromwell and his "Ironsides" decided the day at Naseby. On 
April 22d, 1646, he returned to his seat in Parliament, and was received 
with distinguished honors. 

In 1648 he was sent to restore order in Wales, and from there went 
to Yorkshire and then to Scotland. On December 6th he arrived in 
London, and during the following month sat in the High Court of 
Justice for trying the King. The King was beheaded before the ban- 
queting house at Whitehall on January 30th, 1649. After the execution 
Cromwell was nominated to the new Council of State. 

March 15th, 1649, he was nominated Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. 
He left London on July 10th, embarked at Milford Haven August 13th, 
landed at Dublin August 18th, and in nine months peace was restored 
and he returned to England on May 31st. 1650. 

June 26th, 1650, he was made Captain-General of all the forces of 
the Commonwealth. He was successful at Dunbar September 3d, 1650, 
at Worcester, September 3d, 1654, where "the last hope of royalism was 
buried." 

On the morning of April 20th, 1653, Cromwell and his troopers 
entered and dissolved the "Long Parliament " that had now sat for 
twelve years. Summons were issued in his name to 140 persons to act as 
Parliament. This Assembly met July 4th, but on December 12th they 
resigned their power into the hands of Cromwell. Four days after the 
resignation of the "Little Parliament" he assumed the office of Supreme 
Governor, and on December 16th, 1653, he was solemnly installed at 
Westminster "Lord Protector of England." 

For five years he maintained himself, but his couree was disturbed 
by constant plots, cabals and like formidable annoyances. He at length 
fell a victim to a nervous fever, and on the anniversary of his " Fortunate 
Day," September 3d, 1658, he died. 

Aprif 26th. 1638. Founding of Aquidneck, or Aquitneck. 

William Coddington was a native of Lincolnshire and came over 
with Governor Winthrop in the Asbella, arriving at Salem on March 7th 
1630. He came as an asssistant or magistrate. His name stands at 
the head of a covenant signed at Aquidneck establishing a body politic 



no LIBERTY PRIMER 

to be goverufd ))y the laws ol" the Lord Jesus Christ, the Kiug of 
Kings. They found, however, that it was soou necessary to decide upon 
something more definite. Mr. Coddington was appointed judge, and 
three eklei-s joined with him. These were directed ]>y the vote of the 
free men, January 2d, 1G39, to ))e governed by the general rules of the 
Word of (Jod, when no particular rules were known. On March 20th, 
1G40, another change was made, when a Governor, Lieutenant Governor, 
and four assistants were appointed. Coddington was elected Governor 
for seven years successively, and once again toward the clo.se of his life. 
He is known as "The Father of Rhode Island." He died in 1678, aged 
seventy-eight years. 

April 27th, 1803. Death of Toussaint L'Ou venture in the Castle of Joux. 

Francois Dominique, surnamed Toussaint L'Ouverture, was bom at 
Breda, near Cape Town in Santo Domingo, in the year 1743, both of his 
parents being African slaves. ( The Americanized Encyclopaedia says he 
was born May 20th, 1746, and calls him Pierre Dominique Toussaint 
L'Overture.) From Pierre Baptiste he received the rudiments of an edu- 
cation. He was employed to take the care of cattle, but after he had 
learned to read, his master, M. Bayen de Libertat, manager of the estate, 
made him his coachman. 

He took no part whatever in the insurrection of the mulattoes which 
broke out on August 23d, 1791, but when the proclamation of emancipa- 
tion of February 4th, 1794, was issued, he immediately became conspicu- 
ous because of his superior military abilities. In April, 1796, he became 
Commander-in-Chief of the Armies of St. Domingo. " In his own person 
he exhibited the greatest simplicity, but he surrounded himself with a 
very brilliant staff," and by 1799 was at the height of prosperity. "He 
made himself felt everywhere and in everything in the Island, and was 
soon practically the governing power there. He was generous and 
humane, and his great character shines out on the pages of history as the 
one illustrious figure which gives relief from the pain of that dark 
and trying time. Order having been restored, he devoted himself to 
reorganization in which he displayed as much genius as he had exhibited 
in the field. The wheels of peaceful industry were again set in motion. 
The old planters returned to their plantations under a guarantee of a 
word that never was broken, and the fields once more smiled with flower 
and harvest. In the course of this work of reorganization he had, in 
May, 1801, promulgated a Constitution which conferred special powers 
upon him, but which was, however, distinctly made subject to the 
approval of the mother country." 

In January, 1801, he conquered the Spanish part of St. Domingo, 
and in December following issued a proclamation declaring his obedi- 
ence to the French Republic, but at the same time appealing to his 
soldiers in a language that left no doubt whatever of his determination 
to repel force with force. A French expeditionary force of fifty-four sail, 



LIBERTY PRIMER 51 

under .the command of General Victor Emmanuel Leclerc, ( brother-in- 
law of NapeleoD,) landed at Cai)e Haitien on February 12th, 1802, and 
were met by a steady and persistent resistance on the part of the blacks. 
The war that followed was "characterized by unspeakable atrocities, 
the blacks insisting on fighting Leclerc with his own weapons, exacting 
an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. They were ably led by Tous- 
saint, Christophe, and Dessalines, and fought with the bravery of 
desperation." Yellow fever came to the assistance of the blacks. 
Leclerc sought to repair the damage by fresh troops, but it was no use ; 
he himself fell a victim to the disease and died. He was succeeded by 
Rochambeau ; but although the French won the battles, he was forced to 
abandon the contest and finally left the Island in December, 1803. It is 
said that the French spent in this fruitless expedition 200,000,000 francs 
and sacrificed 55,000 of their best troops. 

General Leclerc finding it impossible to conquer Toussaint by force 
of arms, descended to intrigue. Napoleon sent back his sons, who were 
at school in France bearing messages of mingled threat and promise. 
Toussaint would not violate his trust and betray liberty that had been 
purchased with so much blood. Christophe and Dessalines for some 
cause became dissatisfied, and unsuspecting treachery, Toussaint and 
Eigaud were induced to accept terms. They were made prisoners, sent 
at once to Brest, then to Paris, where they were lodged in the Temple. 
Soon after, Toussaint was transferred to the Castle of Joux, near Besan- 
con, where his faithful attendant. Mars Plaiser, was taken from him, 
and where he had to undergo close confinement. His health failed, and 
he died on April 27th, 1803. 

"A devout Catholic, he gloried in fighting for his king, but the 
decree of the convention emancipating slaves worked an unexpected 
change. He joined the Eepublic, and soon made it supreme in Hayti. 
Eefusing a crown offered by the English, saving the French Governor 
from the mulattoes and protecting all races alike, he became the real 
ruler of the country. His civil administration was in no way inferior to 
his conduct in war. Those who had been slaves were sunk in idleness ; 
he commanded all to work. Vigilant, energetic, incorruptible, merciful 
to his enemies, severe to his friends when required by public good, and 
entirely free from the prejudices of race, he alone was able to govern the 
colony. After seven years of formal dictatorship, to give his authority a 
surer foundation he sent home the draft of a constitution which provided 
for the freedom of all races, he himself being created governor for life, 
with power to name his successor But before it reached Europe the 
peace enabled Bonaparte to send a great armament to Hayti. Toussaint 
counselled submission ; but when war broke out he threw his lot in with 
his fellows. Overpowered, he was nominally set free, but soon after en- 
trapped and carried to France. He died in eighteen months, from the 
hardness of his imprisonment in the Jura. Six months later France 
abandoned Hayti forever." — Pierre Lafitte. 



52 LIHERTY PRIMFR 

April 27th, 1822. General U. S. Grant born at Point Pleasant, Clearmont 
County, Ohio. 

He gnuluated at West Point, Brevet Second Lieutenant of Inlantrv% 
July 1st, 1843. He joined the army under General Zachary Taylor, in 
Texas, and was promoted for gallant and meritorious service at Molino 
del Rev and Chapultepec, and became Captain. On July 31st, 1854, he 
resigned from the army and became, first, a farmer, near St. Louis, and 
then a clerk in his father's store at (Jalena. 

At the outl)reak of the Civil War he was made Colonel of the Rlinois 
Twenty-first Volunteers ; he was promoted Brigadier-General, May 17th, 
1861 ; Major-General, February 16th, 1862 ; Lieutenant-General, March 
2d, 1864 ; General, July 25th, 1866. He was President of the United 
States from March 4th, 1869, to March 4th, 1877, and on March 3d, 1885, 
was restored by Congress to the army and placed on the retired list with 
the rank of General of the Army. 

After retiring from the Presidency he made an extended tour of the 
world and was received with marked distinction by the people and rulers 
everywhere. He then went to New York to reside ; here he placed his 
capital in a banking house in which his son was a partner, but he, per- 
sonally, took no part in the management. The firm failed and General 
Grant was financially ruined. At this juncture he accepted an off'er of a 
leading magazine to contribute a series of articles having reference to the 
principal campaigns of the civil war. "Although he had never 
engaged in literary work, he proved himself a clear and lucid 
writer, and his contributions to the history of the war are of great 
value." In the summer of 1884, he developed in his mouth and 
throat a soreness, which, on consulting a physician, was declared to be 
cancerous. The trouble grew rapidly worse, and he knew that his days 
were numbered. With this knowledge clearly before him he sat do\vTi 
to prepare for publication his memoirs, in order to make provision for 
those who were dearest to him. The last page of this work was finished 
four days before his death. He died at Mt. McGregor, near Saratoga, 
N. Y., July 23d, 1885. 

" His military and political career are a part of the history of his 
country. A plain, quiet, gentle, unostentatious, reticent man, he at- 
tracted little attention to himself, personally. But his inflexible reso- 
lution, that held steadily to its purpose through every delay and disaster ; 
his fertility of resource to meet each movement of his wary opponents ; 
his power of handling great masses of men, and of manoeuvering in 
concert the widely separated Federal armies ; his unruffled calmness, 
alike in moments of defeat and of triumph ; his quick decision and 
prompt action in great emergency, as if he had prepared for it ; above all, 
his sublime faith in his ultimate and perfect success, inspired his 
companions-in-arms with an intense devotion and made him to them the 
very ' incarnation of the cause for which they were fighting.' " — Barnes* 
History. 



LIBERTY PRIMEE 53 

." The most brilliant jewels of his crown will be that he counselled 
peace and reconciliation among his countrymen, and that he demon- 
strated the justice and wisdom of settling disputes among nations, not 
by war, but by arbitration." — Chauncey 31. Depew. 

April 28th, 1758. James Monroe Born in Westmoreland County, Va. 

When the Kevolution broke out in 1776, he left William and Mary 
College to join the Continental Army. He participated in the actions at 
Harlem Heights, White Plains and Trenton, where he was dangerously 
wounded. In the campaigns of 1777 and 1778, he was an aide to Gen. 
William Alexander (Lord Sterling), and was at the battles of Brandy- 
wine, Germantown and Monmouth. At the request of Thomas Jefferson, 
then Governor of Virginia, he was sent as Commissioner to visit the 
Southern Army under command of Baron De Kalb in 1780. Returning, 
he began the study of law under Jefierson. In 1782 he was a member of 
the Assembly of Virginia, and was called to a seat in the Executive 
Council. From 1783-1786 was a member of Congress, and in 1787 a 
member of the Constitutional Convention, and also a member of the State 
Convention that adopted it. On March 12th, 1790, William Grayson, 
the United States Senator from Virginia, died at Dumfries, on his way 
to Congress, and Mr. Monroe was appointed to fill the vacancy. In 
1794 he was the United States Minister to France, and on his return 
in 1799 was elected Governor of the State of Virginia. In 1802, Presi- 
dent Jefferson appointed him to act with Mr. Livingston, then Minister 
to France, and Mr. Charles Pinckney, Minister to Spain, The result 
of this embassy was the purchase by the United States of that vast 
country then known as Louisiana, with indefinable boundaries north 
of the Spanish Colonies, west from the Mississippi. In 1803 he suc- 
ceeded Rufus King as Minister to England. In 1810 he was once more 
in the State Legislature, and in the following year made Governor, 
but before the close of the year he succeeded Robert Smith as Secretary 
of State under President Madison. In 1814 he succeeded John Arm- 
strong as Secretary of War, and in 1816 was elected President, reelected 
in 1820 without any opposition. He died in New York city, July 
4th, 1831. 

On the 2d of December, 1823, he inserted in his annual message to 
Congress, a declaration, which is now known as the "Monroe Doctrine." 
'' It was the formation of the sentiment then beginning to prevail, that 
America was for Americans." The United States would not interfere 
with European politics, and European nations must not meddle with the 
politics of any State, either in North or South America. "It has been 
called the Second Declaration of Independence. ' ' 

" Let them bring all the vassels of Europe in arms : 
We 're a world by ourselves." — R. T. Paine. 
Comes out in his message in thundering tone 
And says all he wants is to be let alone. — Anon. 



54 I-IISEKTV I'UIMEK 

April 28th, 1788. Maryland Ratifies the Constitution. 

Tile iieople of Marvlaiul were atone time called "craw-thumpers" 
by politicians. Maryland was the seventh State to Katily the Consti- 
tution. The State was named in honor of Henrietta. Maria, the Queen 
of Charles I. It was the purpose of Lord Baltimore in founding Mary- 
land to erect a Roman Catholic Province upon a feudal basis, with a 
hereditary nobility, &c., but this could not bettarried out because of the 
operation of a clause in their charter which prescribed that laws 
could be made only with the "advice and consent and approbation of the 
freemen of said pro\'ince, or the gieater part of them, or by their dele- 
gates or deputies." Maryland took an active part in the war for the 
extinction of French domination on this continent, and the colony was 
among the first to resist and oppose the British aggressions, which led to 
the Revolutionary War. In 1774 the proprietary government came to an 
end and the authority was assumed by the people. The first Republican 
Legislature assembled at Annapolis, February 3d, 1777, and Thomas 
Johnson was the first Republican Grovemor of the State. 

April 29th, 1745. Oliver Ellsworth Born at Windsor, Conn. 

He graduated at Princeton in 1766, and began the practice of law. 
In 1777 he was a delegate to the Continental Congress. From 1780-1784, 
member of the Council of Connecticut, when he was appointed Judge of 
the Suiierior Court. In 1787 he served as a member of the Constitutional 
Convention, and when the Constitution was adopted he was chosen Sen- 
ator from Connecticut. In 1796 Washington nominated him Chief 
Justice of the United States. In 1799 President Adams appointed him 
envoy extraordinary to visit France, " to discuss and settle by treaty, 
all controversies between the United States and France." Messrs. 
Oliver Ellsworth, W. R. Davie and W. V. Murray were made members of 
the Commission. When they arrived at France, the Directory had been 
overthrown, and they had to deal with Bonaparte as first Consul. "They 
siicceeded in restoring good relations." On the 7th of April, powers 
were exchanged and a treaty concluded on September 30th, 1800. Re- 
turning home in 1800, Judge Ellsworth resigned the office of Chief 
Justice of the United States. The people of Connecticut at once came 
forward and demanded that he should be the Chief Justice for the State. 
This he, however, declined ^ :> accept on account of his ill health. He 
died November 26th, 1807. 

" Mr. Ellsworth was an accomplished advocate, an upright legis- 
lator and an able and impartial judge, a wise and incorruptible patriot, 
who devoted every faculty, every literary acquisition and almost every 
hour of his life to his country's good. " 

April 30th, 1789. Washington inaugurated first President of the United 
States. 
The Revolutionary War began with the Battle of Lexington (April 
10th, 1775) and closed with the surrender of Lord Comwallis at York- 



LIBEETY PRIJIEK 55 

town (October 19th, 1781). The British evacuated New York on Novem- 
ber 25th, 1783 ; the army was disbanded, and, at Annapolis, on December 
23d, 1783, Washington resigned his commission to Congress then in 
session at that place. On May 12th, 1787, the Constitutional Convention 
assembled in Philadelphia and sat until the 17th of September, when the 
new Constitution was promulgated. Within the year 1788 nine states had 
ratified the Constitution, and in spite of opposition it became binding. 
North Carolina adopted it in 1789. Presidential elections were held in 
eleven states that had adopted the Constitution, except New York, where 
the Legislature failed to make any provision for an election. The 
electoral votes being counted, George Washington received sixty-nine 
votes and John Adams thirty-four. 

The fourth of March was the time appointed for the inauguration of 
the new government, but it was three weeks before a full meeting of both 
houses of Congress could be obtained ; at length the votes were counted 
and George Washington was declared unanimously elected President, 
and John Adams having received the second number of votes. Vice 
President. 

A statue of Washington in Wall street in New York marks the spot 
where the "Father of his Country" took the oath of office. Federal 
Hall was situated at the northeast corner of Wall and Nassau streets, 
where now stands the United States Sub-Treasury Building. On the 
balcony overlooking the open space of Broad street, AVashington stood in 
the presence of both branches of the National Legislature and an 
immense concourse of citizens. Chancellor Livingston of New York 
administered the oath of office in the following words : 

"I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the office of 
President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability preserve, 
protect and defend the Constitution of the United States. ' ' 

The Chancellor then proclaimed him President of the United States. 
This was answered by a salute of thirteen guns and the shouts of the 
multitude. Then bowing, the President retired to the Senate Chamber, 
where he delivered his inaugural address. — Altered, ivith some additions, 
from FrosVs History of the United States. 

April 30, 1889. The Centennial of the Inauguration of George Washington 
as first President of the United States was celebrated by the organi- 
zation in the Long room, Fraunces Tavern, New York, of the Society of 
the Sons of the American Resolution. 
The pledge taken by the members of the Society, on joining, is as 
follows : We pledge ourselves to cherish, maintain and extend the insti- 
tution of American freedom, to foster true patriotism and love of country, 
and to aid in securing for mankind all the blessings of liberty. 

April 30th, 1803. The Cession of Louisiana by France. 

On the day following the signature of the Treaty of Paris (Septem- 
ber 30th, 1800) a secret treaty was concluded at St. Ildefonso between 



•56 LIBEETY PBIIVIER 

France and Spain. Tbis was the Treaty by which Louisiana was 
restored to France. The failure of the Treaty of Amiens to restore a 
permanent peace induced Napoleon to transfer the Louisianas to the 
United States. He consulted Berthier and Marbois ; the conference 
lasted far into the nifj;ht ; Berthier opposed it, Marbois favoretl it. Early 
the next morning be called Marbois to him and said '".Je renonce i la 
Louisiane. Ce n'est point seulemeut la Nouvclle-Orleans que je veuxe 
ceder ; c'est toute la colonic sans en rien n'servcr. " (I renounce Louis- 
iana. It is not only New Orleans that I wish to yield, it is all the 
colony, without reserving anything. ) 

The interview took place on the lOth of April, the decision was 
made on the lltli. On the afternoon of the .same day the negotiations 
opened by an abrupt question from Talleyrand to Livingston whether 
the United States wished for the whole of Louisiana ; Livingston, who 
had been instructed only to negotiate for New Orleans and the Missis- 
sippi boundary line, said, "No, we only want New Orleans and the 
Floridas." But he soon found he was dealing with a much larger 
question, and Monroe arriving the same day from America, with fresh 
instructions to aid in its dLsposition. Napoleon empowered Marbois to 
negotiate for France, and instructed him to consent to the transfer 
provided he could secure 50,000,000 francs. He did secure 80,000,000, 
20,000,000 of which were to be ai^plicable to the extinguishment of 
claims against France, and 60,000,000 were to be paid in cash to France. 
TNTien it was concluded Napoleon said, ' ' Cette accession de territoire, 
affermit pour toujours la puLssance des Etats Unis, et je vieus de donner 
a I'Angleterre un rival maritime, qui tot on tard abaissera sou orgueil." 
(This accession of territory strengthens forever the power of the United 
States, and I give to England a maritime rival, which sooner or later 
will lower her pride.) — Treaties and Conventions betiveen the United States 
and Foreign Powers, 1889. 

The French Expedition against San Domingo under Gen. Leclerc 
(February 12th, 1802 to December, 1803), had proved an utter failure. 
55,000 French troops and 200,000,000 francs had been sacrificed. "War 
with England was dailj' becoming more imminent, and the plans that 
Napoleon had prepared in regard to Louisiana were impracticable. The 
offer made by Jefterson to pay Spain for the Floridas was received, but 
instead of accepting it Napoleon now proposed to transfer the whole of 
Louisiana itself. This, as we saw above, was accepted by the United 
States, and the immense tract then called Louisiana, embracing all the 
Tast territory west of the Mississippi, was added to the country at a cost 
of $15,000,000. 

April 30th, 1812. Louisiana admitted to the Union. 

Louisiana, the Creole State, the fifth to be admitted to the Union. 

The earliest record of exploration was that of De Soto, who landed 
in. Florida, and made the journey through the woods to the swamps ot 



LIBERTY PEIMEE 57 

the Mississippi in 1541. He died the year following and was buried in 
the waters of the great river. In 1673 Marquette and Joliet descended 
the river to the mouth of the Arkansas. In 1682 La Salle followed the 
river to the Gulf of Mexico, and in the name of Louis XIV. took 
possession, and in honor of the king called it Louisiana. 

In 1698 two frigates sailed from Brest under the command of Pierre 
le Mojme Iberville and his brother Bien\dlle ; who entered the Mississippi 
and fortified Biloxi, and in 1700 ascended the river ; this appears to have 
been the first successful settlement, but finding their location unhealthful 
Bienville moved the settlement to Mobile. In 1706 the colonists were 
led to the present site of New Orleans, where they made a stand and 
unfurled the flag of France. 

In 1712 Louis XIV. gave to Anthony Crozat the exclusive privilege, 
for fifteen years, of trading in Louisiana, of sending a ship once a year 
for a cargo of slaves to Africa, working mines, etc. , etc. , one-fourth of the 
profits to revert to the king. Crozat in 1717, transferred all his interest 
to a chartered company, ' ' Compagnia des Indes-Occidentales, ' ' under 
the leadership of John Law, a Scotchman. The capital of this concern 
was in 200,000 shares, amounting to 100,000,000 livres. The concern was 
extended and became a National Bank, causing a speculative mania that 
lasted until May, 1720, which finally involved in ruin half of the French 
nobility. In 1731 the concern resigned its interest to the crown, who in 
1762 ceded all Louisiana to Spain, but in 1800 Spain reconveyed the 
pro^^nce back to France by the Treaty of St. Ildefonso on October 1st. 
In 1803 France ceded the province to the United States. In 1804 the 
Territory of Orleans was organized (March 26th) comprising nearly the 
limits of the present State. The Act of April 8th, 1812, admitted the 
Territory of Orleans into the Union as the State of Louisiana, the 
remainder of the Territory having been organized as the Territory of 
Louisiana with its capital at St. Louis on March 3d, 1805, but on the 4th 
of June, 1812, the name of that Territory was changed to Missouri. 
Under the above Act Louisiana became a State on April 30th, 1812. 

May, 1643. The New England Confederacy. 

Representatives of Plymouth, Massachusetts, Connecticut and New- 
Haven met at Boston and formed " The United Colonies of New England " 
in a "firm and perpetual league of friendship, and unity, for offence and 
defence, mutual advice, and succor, upon all just occasions, both for 
preserving and propagating the truth and liberties of the Gospel, and for 
the mutual safety and welfare." — From an old Calendar. 
Hail to the land whereon we tread, 

Our fondest boast. 
The sepulchre of mighty dead, 
The truest hearts that ever bled. 
Who sleep on glory's brightest bed 
A fearless host ; 



56 J.IIJEKTY I'KIMKK 

No slave is here, ovir unchained feet 
"Walk freely as the waves that heat 

Uur coast. — PercicaVa New England. 

May, 1732. Martha Washington born in New Kent County, Virginia. 

She was the daughter of Coloiul John Danridge. She was educated 
by private tutors. At the age of lifteen she Avas introduced to the Vice 
Regal Court of Sir AVilliani Gooch and in June, 1749, married Daniel 
Park Custis, a wealthy planter at White House on the Pamunkey River. 
They had four children, two of whom died in infancy. In 1757 Mr. 
Custis died. 

About a year after the death of her husband, while on a visit at the 
bouse of Major William Chamberlayue, she met Colonel George Wash- 
ington. In 1758 they became engaged, but on account of the northern 
military campaign the wedding was delayed until January, 17th, 1759, 
when it was celebrated at St. Peter's Church, New Kent County, the 
Rev. John Mossom officiating. For the next seventeen years she lived 
at Mount Vernon, very much in the style of the English aristocracy. 

She ardently sympathized with her husband in his patriotic mission. 
Writing to a friend in 1774, she said, "Yes, I foresee consequences — 
dark days, domestic happiness suspended, social engagements abandonetl 
and eternal separations on earth possible. But my mind is made up, 
my heart is in the cause, George is right ; he is always right. God has 
promised to protect the righteous, and I will trust Him." 

Whenever it was possible she was with her husband in camp. Dur- 
ing the winter at Valley Forge she suffered many privations in common 
with the officers, and "was busy from morning to night providing for 
the comfort of the sick soldiers. ' ' 

Martha Park Custis, her daughter, died when seventeen years old. 
John Park Custis, her son, died in 1781, leaving four children, two 
of whom, Eleanor Park and George Washington Park, were adopted 
by General Washington. In 1782 she left Washington at Newburgh, 
N. Y., and did not again return to camp. When the General was elected 
President she was quietly living at Mount Vernon. She was fifty-seven 
years old when she entered upon the duties of the Executive Mansion at 
New York. Levees were held on Friday evenings from eight to nine 
o'clock, and full dress was required. During the second term they 
resided in Philadelphia. The remainder of her life was passed at Mount 
Vernon. She survived her husband two and a-half yeai-s, dying at 
Mount Vernon May 22d, 1802. 

May, 1809. Revolution in Chuquisaca in Upper Peru. 

The Creoles, at the instigation of the Audiencia, deposed the con- 
stituted authorities, and set up an independent government. In July 
the city of La Paz followed their example. Under the name Tunta 
TuHira, an independent government, composed exclusively of Amer- 
icans, was established, which raised an army and which hung those who 



LIBERTY PEIMER 59 

disputed its authority. Both of these revolts were suppressed by the 
combined arms of the ueighboriug Vice Royalties of Peru and La Plata. 
The leaders at La Paz either died in battle or were hung. 

May, 1830. Declaration of Independence of Ecuador. 

In 1531 with three ships, 180 men and 27 horses, Francisco and 
Hernando Pizarro landed at the mouth of the River Timbez, or Saragura, 
and in May, 1532, set out for the interior with the purpose of conquer- 
ing the country and subjugating the people. In 1533 the fate of the 
country was sealed. Quito was occupied in 1534, and became the Presi- 
dency of the Vice Royalty of Peru. When the desire for independence 
began to manifest itself. Dr. Eugenio Espejo and some associates organ- 
ized at Quito the " Escuela de Concordia." In 1809 attempts were made 
to throw off the Spanish yoke. In spite of reverses they held to the cry 
of liberty until at length, under Generals Antonio Jos^ de Sucr6 and 
Andres Santa Cruz, they gained a complete victory on Mount Pichincha 
(May 24th, 1822.) Two days after, Aymerich, the Spanish Captain- 
General of Quito, capitulated. A political union was at once made with 
New Grenada and Venezuela ; the revolutionary constitution of July, 
1821, accepted, under the name of Columbia. In 1828 there arose a 
difficulty with Peru, and Cueca and Guayaquil were occupied by Peruvian 
troops. At the battle of Taarqui the Peruvians were defeated. 

Quito and Guayaquil now separated themselves from Columbia and 
organized the '' La Republica del Ecuador," and declared their inde- 
pendence, which has since been maintained. General Juan Jos6 Flores 
was chosen the first president of Ecuador. 

May 2d, 1890. Territory of Oklahoma organized. 

The Territory was opened for settlement by proclamation April 22d, 
1889. In the latter part of 1884, and early in 1885, a large number of 
persons crossed the border and occupied the lands that had been reserved 
by the Government for the use of the Cherokee, Creek and Seminole 
Indians. On January 23d, 1885, there were over 300 "Boomers" in 
camp at Stillwater. On that day Lieutenant Day with forty-two men 
visited their camp and notified Captain C. L. Couch, who was the 
acknowledged leader, that they must at once leave the territory, and he 
gave him five minutes to make his decision. Finding that Captain 
Couch and his "Boomers" were preparing to fight, Lieutenant Day 
withdrew. On the 25th General Hatch visited the camp and ordered 
them to leave or he would fire, upon them. On Monday the evacuation 
began ; the line was escorted to the Kansas border, where they were 
released on condition that they would not return to Oklahoma. 

The United States Senate passed a bill creating the Temtory of 
Oklahoma February 13th, 1890 and the House on March 13th, 1890 ; 
and the Territory was organized, A. J. Seay being appointed fha first 
Governor. 



60' LIBERTY PEIMEE 

May 3d, 1791. Poland Adopts a Free Constitution. 

The Diet of 1788 sat for four years, which was remarkable from the 
fact that former diets had lasted generally but a few days, or at the most 
for a few weeks. Many important changes were introduced, such as the 
amelioration of the condition of the burghers and peasants, but it was too 
late. Although these conditions were improved, the peasants were not 
yet emancipated. The Konian Catholic was to ])e the dominant religion, 
but others were permitted The throne was declared hereditary, and 
Augustus III. made the successor of Stanislaus. The burghers were to 
send deputies to the Diet on the same footing with the nobles. The new 
Constitution was promulgated May 3d, 1791, and the King and the two 
Chambers took the oath to preserve it. In 1792 the Confederation of Tar- 
goviea was formed by Felix Potocki, P'rancis Xavier Brauicki, Severin 
Rzewski, who desired to restore to the nobles their lost privileges. They 
sought the aid of Russia, and at their instance the Russian troops invaded 
Poland and Lithuania. The weak king, Stanislaus Augustus, signed 
the Convention of Targoviea, and the Russians occupied Warsaw. 

May 4th, 1541. Discovery of the Mississippi by Ferdinand de Soto. 

The " Great Waters." It is navigable for 2,240 miles, and with the 
river Missouri, drains an area of about a million and a quarter square 
miles. In 1538 De Soto set sail with 600 men. He landed at Espiritu 
Santo Bay (Tampa), on the west coast of Florida in May, 1539, and for 
nearly four years wandered from point to point through the woods in 
Florida and Georgia to the site of Mobile, and finally on the 4th of May, 
1541, reached the great river. In June he had effected a crossing, and 
during the summer penetrated some 200 miles further. Worn out by 
constant hostilities with the Indians and his wanderings, he became sick 
and died on May 21st, 1542, when his followers to preserve his body from 
the Indians, sank it in the middle of the river. " The discoverer of the 
Missisippi," says Bancroft, "slept beneath its waters. He cro.ssed the 
continent in the search for gold, and found nothing so remarkable as his 
burial place. ' ' 

De Soto's followers, under ^losooce, attempted to reach ISIexico, and 
pushed westward some 300 miles, but they were forced to return and 
prepare boats, in which they passed down the river to the Gulf of Mex- 
ico, which they accomplished with great difficulty on June 18th, 1543. 
Five days after 311 men, all that was left of De Soto's splendid party, 
arrived at Panuco, IMexico. 

May 4th, 1796. Birth of Horace Mann, at Franklin, Mass. 

He was the founder of the common school system in America. 

He graduated at Brown University in 1819. studied law, and was 
admitted to the Bar in 1823. In that year he was elected to the Massa- 
chusetts Legislature, in 1833 became a meml)er of the State Senate, in 
1837 the Secretary of the State Board of Education to revise and to 



LIBERTY PRIMER 61 

reorganize the State Common School System. In 1848 he was elected 
to Congress to fill a vacancy caused by the death of John Quincy Adams, 
which office he held until 1853, when he resigned to accept the presi- 
dency of Antioch College. He died at Yellow Springs, Ohio, August 
2d, 1857. 

He said, "And the man who hoards superfluous wealth, when there 
is famishing in the next street ; the man who revels in luxuries, while 
the homeless and breadless are driven from his door ; the man who, 
through an ©stentation of literature, walls himself in with libraries 
which he cannot read, while thousands of children around him are desti- 
tute of school books — the very wheat of all knowledge — such a man has 
no love, nor sympathy, nor feeling of brotherhood for his race ; and, 
therefore, go where he will, the kingdom of Heaven must be his anti- 
pode — ' One point of the circumference of a revolving wheel may as well 
attempt to overtake the opposite point, as he to reach that kingdom.' 
The casting off of his loved burdens will alone give him the agility to 
attain it." — A Feiv Thoughts to Young Men, 1850. 

May 5th, 1840. Death of Francisco de Paula Santander at Bogota, Ecuador. 

He was born at Rosario de Cucuta, New Grenada, in 1792. He 
received a good education, and served through the wars of the Revolu- 
tion. Bolivar sent him to raise an army in the Province of Casanare, 
the population of which live upon the banks of the river Orinoco. Here 
he raised 1,200 infantry, 600 horse and with them drove back the royalist 
army under Colonel Barrerro, who had 2,500 men and who had marched 
against him from New Grenada. 

In the passage of the Andes (June 11th to July 9th, 1819), he com- 
manded the Casanare Division. 

He was Vice-President of New Grenada, and resigned with Bolivar, 
February 6th, 1827, but neither of these resignations was accepted. 

In 1828 a conspiracy was discovered against Bolivar. The principals 
Were all hung, but Santander was sent into exile. 

May 6th, 1821. Constituent Congress convened at Cucuta. 

This gathering was composed entirely of civilians, the greater part 
of whom were lawyers. It was radically Republican, opposed both to 
the abuses of military rule, and also to the anti-democratic theories of the 
Liberator (Bolivar). His resignation was a protest against accusations. 
This Congress debated and enacted the Constitution of Colombia. Bol- 
ivar's ideas of an hereditary Senate and a life Presidency were rejected. 
The President was to hold office for four years, and was not eligible for a 
reelection. Bogota was declared the capital of the Republic. Bolivar 
was named as President and Santander as Vice-President. Bolivar re- 
peated his resignation. Congress persisted, when he made an eloquent 
speech, in which he said, "A man, such as I am, is a dangerous citizen 
under a popular government. I wish to be a citizen in order to be free, 
and that all may be so likewise." 



Q-2 I.IIJKHTV I'UIMKH 

May 7th, 1762. Joseph Anton Poniatowski born at Warsaw, Poland. 

At the age of sixteen he entered the Austrian military service, and 
on the organization of the Polish army he obtained the rank of Major- 
General. In 1792 he commanded in Central Poland. "When the revolu- 
tion broke out in 17!)4, he enrolled himself as a volunteer under Kosci- 
usko. He had the command of a division on the north side in the defence 
of Wars;iw. After the capitulation he went to Vienna. 

Accepting service under Napoleon, he was placed in command of the 
Polish Army Corps, and distinguished himself at Solensk, Borodino and 
Leipsic, where he took 1,000 prisoners and Napoleon made him a Marshal 
of France. He was employed in covering the retreat from Leipsic. He» 
endeavored to join the main body by plunging into the Eister, but he 
was fired upon and so enfeebled by wounds that he drowned on October 
19th, 1813. 

May 8th, 1753. Don Miguel Hidalgo y Costillo born in Mexico. 

He studied at Yalladolid, a city of Yucatan, but in 1779 went to the 
city of Mexico, where he became a priest. 

Dissatisfied with the government, he conspired at Yalladolid against 
the Spanish authority in December, 1809. At Suevelaro he issued a 
Declaration of Independence, and with a thousand men marched upon 
San Miguel. At Colaya he was elected General-in-Chief " His elo- 
quence had a powerful effect upon the people, and to heighten the enthu- 
siasm he held aloft the figure of Our Lady of Guadaloupe, the patron 
saint of Mexico, and gave to the insurrection the character of a crusade." 
On September 10th he attacked Juanajuato, which he took by storm. 
Here he established a cannon factory and a mint. This attack was made 
at night, his followers giving the cry, "Long live Eeligion ! long live 
our Holy Mother of Guadaloupe ! long live America, and death to bad 
government." This cry is known as " jE'^ gratio de Dolores.''^ 

He then took, without much resistance, Yalladolid. On December 
2d began his retreat. December 7th he was attacked by Generals Callega 
and Aoula, when the greater part of his followers were dispersed. At 
Yalladolid he organized a government and prepared for resistance. On 
January 17th, 1811, the Spanish troops attacked him with a force of 6,000 
men. Hidalgo is said to have had at one time as many as 100,000 
Indians, but the Spaniards gained the victory and his forces were utterly 
routed. He set out for the United States, hoping to gain some assist- 
ance, but he was captured with his Lieutenants Allenote, Aldama and 
Jimenez, who were executed on June 26th, 1811. 

On July 29th he was degraded from his priestly office, and on July 31, 
at Chihuahua, he was executed. Some years after he was extolled as a 
saint. 

May 8th, 1871. The Treaty of Washington. " The Alabama Claims." 

The course pursued by Great Britain during the late insurrection 
raised many questions between the two governments, some of which were 



MBEKTY PRIMER 63 

grave ,ind threatening. The Queen's proclamation of May 15th, 1861, 
gave the rights of helligereuts to the Confederates and the cruisers Flor- 
ida, Georgia, Shenandoah and Alabama, were built in England and 
equipped and armed for depredation on the commerce of the United 
States. 

At the close of the war the United States made a formal demand 
upon Great Britain for compensation to the nation and to individual 
loosers. A convention ^as signed to refer the claims to arbitration, but 
failed to meet the approval of the Senate. The British Minister, writing 
home and referring to the speech of Mr. Charles Sumner, said, " The sum 
of Mr. Sumner's assertions is that England * * * is responsible for the 
property destroyed by the Alabama and other Confederate cruisers, and 
even for remote damages to American shipping interests, including the in- 
crease of the rate of insurance ; that the Confederates were so much assisted 
by being able to get arms and ammunition from England, and so much en- 
couraged by the Queen's proclamation, that the war lasted much longer 
than it otherwise would have done, and we ought therefore to pay imag- 
inary additional expenses imposed upon the United States by the pro- 
longation of the war." In 1869, when Mr. Fish became Secretary of 
State, he wrote to Mr. Motley, the United States Minister at London, 
"The President recognizes the right of every power, when civil conflict 
has arisen within another State, and has attained a suflScient complexity, 
magnitude and completeness, to define its own relations and those of its 
citizens and subjects toward the parties to the conflict, and the President 
regards the concession of the rights of belligerents to the insurgents as a 
part of the case only so far as it shows the beginning and animus of that 
course of conduct which resulted so disastrously to the United States." 
Negotiations were resumed and a treaty was signed for a reference to a 
Tribunal of Arbitration, to be convened at Geneva, of all claims growing 
out of the Confederate vessels. 

In January, 1871, Great Britain proposed to adjust the difterences 
between themselves and the United States bj^ a joint commission who 
should draw up a treaty. The United States asked that the Alabama 
claims be also included in the settlement. On February 27th, 1871, 
five high commissioners met at Washington, and on the 8th of ]\Iay 
following concluded their deliberations and the treaty was signed which 
was ratified at once by both parties, and on the 4th of July, 1871, Pres- 
ident Grant proclaimed it to be in force. 

The Treaty appointed a Tribunal, to be composed of five persons, to 
be appointed by the President of the United States, the Queen of Great 
Britain, the King of Italy, the President of Switzerland and the Emperor 
of Brazil, who should be arbitrators. This tribunal met at Geneva, Switz- 
erland, and on September 14th, 1872, rendered their decision, having sat 
since December 17th, 1871. It was decreed that Great Britain should 
pay to the United States for the Alabama claims, £3,229,966, 13s. 4d., or, 
in round numbers, $15,500,000. 



64 LUJEEri' PUIMEB 

May 10th, 1775. Second Continental Congress. 

On May 8th, the Delegates from the eastward, with Philip Living- 
ston, James Duane. .lolin Alsop and Francis Lewis, delegates from New 
York City ; Colonel William Floyd for 8af!olk and Simon Boerum lor 
Kings County, New York, set out for Philadelphia attended by a great 
train, to the North River Ferry, where two or three sloops and a number 
of other vessels were provided. It is said that about five hundred gen- 
tlemen crossed the ferry with them, among whom were two hundred 
militia under arms. {Holt's Journal, May 11, 1775). Today the delegates 
arrived at Philadelphia. They were met about six miles out by the 
officers of all the companies in the city, and by many other gentlemen on 
horseback, in all amounting to five hundred. When they came within the 
limits of the city they were met by the company of riflemen and a com- 
pany of infantry, with a band of music, who conducted them through the 
most public streets of the city to their lodgings, amidst the acclamations 
of fifteen thousand spectators. {Virginia Gazette, May 27, 1775.) 

Congress recommended to the assemblies and conventions of the col- 
onies where no sufficient government had been established, " To atlopt 
such government as should, in the opinion of the representatives of the 
people, best conduce to the happiness and safety of their constituents in 
particular, and America in general. " They also declared it necessary, 
that the exercise of everj' kind of authority under the crown should be 
suppressed, and that all the powers of government should be exercised 
" Under the authority of the people of the colonies, for the preservation of 
internal peace, virtue and good order, as (well as for the defence 
of their lives, liberties and properties, against the hostile invasions and 
cruel depredations of their enemies." This was a preliminary step to 
the Declaration of Independence. {Hinton's History.) 

Addresses were voted to the inhabitants of Great Britain, to the 
people of Canada, to the Assembly of Jamaica, and a second address to 
the King. Twenty thousand men were ordered to be equipped, George 
Washington, a delegate from Virginia, was chosen Commander-in-Chief 
and accepted, bills of credit were issued for $3,000,000 to defray the ex- 
penses of the war. 

On May 20th Congress passed the "Act of Union of the States." 

May 10th, 1775. The Capture of Ticonderoga. 

Captain Edward Mott and Captain Noah Phelps set out from Hart- 
ford, on Saturday, the 29th of April, in order to take possession of the 
fortress of Ticonderoga and the dependencies thereto belonging ; they 
took with them from Connecticut, sixteen men, unarmed, and marched 
privately through the country till they came to Pittsfield, without dis- 
covering their design to any person till they fell in with Colonel Ethan 
AUen, Colonel Eaton and John Brown, Esq., who engaged themselves to 
the said Mott and Phelps, and to raise men sufficient to take the place 
by surprise, if possible. Accordingly the men were raised and pro- 



LIBERTY PRIMEK 65 

ceeded-as directed by said Mott and Phelps, Colonel Allen commanding 
the soldiery. On Tuesday they surprised and took the fortress, making 
prisoners of the commandant and his party. On Wednesday morning 
they possessed themselves of Crown Point, taking possession of the ord- 
nance stores, consisting of upwards of two hundred pieces of cannon, three 
mortars, sundry howitzers and lifty swivels, etc. — Bicington's Gazette, 
May 18th, 1775. 

May 10th. 1876. The Centennial Exhibition at Philadelphia. Pa. 

The exhibition was held at Fairmount Park, 25(5 acres of which were 
appropriated and enclosed for the purpose. There were five main build- 
ings, and something over two hundred additional separate buildings 
within the enclosure. The exhibition was opened every day except Sun- 
days until November 10th. The admissions were 9,910,945, of which 
mimber 7,250. 620 paid the full rate of 50 cents each, 753,633 the special 
rate of 25 cents, and 1,906,692 were free, representing employes, exhibi- 
tors and complimentary. 

May 11th, 1858. Minnesota admitted to the Union. 

The Gopher State. The nineteenth State admitted to the Union. 
The name is Indian and signifies "sky-tinted waters." The earliest ac- 
count of this region is from traders and missionaries who had penetrated 
beyond its boundaries. In 1678 an expedition under Jean DuLuth, a 
French officer, was formed to penetrate the country and trade. Later on 
they went from Lake Superior to the Mississippi. Louis Hennepin, a 
recollet monk, in 1680, ascended the Mississippi to the Falls of St. An- 
thony, and from the patron saint of the party gave the name to the falls 
and formed a settlement. This, however, soon degenerated, the settlers 
adopting the habits of the Indians. In 1766 the country was explored 
by Captain Jonathan Carver, of Connecticut, who travelled extensively 
through all this region after the cession of 1763, when the territory came 
under British control. He published, in 1778, his " Travels Through the 
Interior Parts of North America. ' ' In 1783 Minnesota, included in the 
Northwest Territory, became a part of the United States. This region 
was slowly settled. In 1805 two tracts were purchased, one at the mouth 
of the St. Croix and the other at the mouth of the Minnesota, from the 
Indians. Fort Snelling was built in 1820, and in 1822 a mill was set up 
on the site of INIinneapolis. In 1823 the first steamboat ascended the 
Mississippi to the Falls of St. Anthony. In 1830 a small settlement was 
made at what is now St. Paul. The Indian titles to lands east of the 
Mississippi were acquired in 1838, and a settlement made at Stillwater 
in 1842. With a population estimated at 4,057, Congress organizeii the 
Territory of Minnesota in 1849, with its western boundary at the Mis- 
souri River (March 3d). It was proposed to call it Itasca. A Constitu- 
tion was adopted in 1857 and it became a State May 10th, 1858. 



U6 J,IHEKTV I'KIMKU 

May 13th. 1607. The seWement of Virginia. 

On December 20th, 1G06, a little squadron of three ships, urider the 
command of Christopher Newport, sailed from England (the Thames). 
Their purpose was to land at Koanoak, but driven by a storm to the 
north theyst ood into the broad Chesapeake Bay. They discovered t'vo 
capes ; one they called Henry, the other Charles, in honor of the King's 
two sons, and sailed up the bay. Discovering the Powhatan River they 
entered, calling it " The James," after the name of the King, and Unally 
settled upon a peninsula, about fifty miles above the mouth of the 
stream, and here made a landing. That night the sealed box that had 
been taken care of by Newport, containing instructions, wa.; opened, and 
it was found that Bartholomew Gosnold, John Smith, Edward "Wmg- 
field, Christopher Newport, John Katcliffe, John Martin and George Ken- 
dell were named and constituted the Council of Government, with power 
to elect a President from among themselves. Wingfield was elected 
President and Captain John Smith expelled on a charge of sedition. 
They commenced clearing the forest and erected log houses and stock- 
ades, and gave to their settlement the name of Jamestown. In a month 
Newport returned to England. During the summer nearly every man 
was sick, and out of 105 who lauded fifty d^ed, among whom was Bar- 
tholomew Gosnold, the proprietor of the settlement, and perhaps one of 
the ablest men of their council. This was the first settlement of Vir- 
ginia. 

May 14th, 1737. Samuel Ho/den Parsons born Lyme, Conn. 

He was the son of the Eev. Jonathan Parsons. He graduated at Har- 
vard in 1756 and studied law under Mathew Griswald, and was admitted 
to the Bar in 1759. He represented Lyme for several years in the 
Colonial Assembly. In 1774 he became the King's prosecuting attorney 
and removed to New London. 

On April 26th, 1775, he was made Colonel of the Sixth Connecticut 
Eegiment, at Eoxbury, Mass., and ordered to New York. He took part 
in the battles of Long Island, and the siege of Boston and was promoted 
to be Brigadier-General. In 1779 he succeeded General Israel Putnam 
as the commander of the Connecticut militia, and in 1780 was commis- 
sioned Major-General. 

He was a member of the Board of Officers who tried Major Andr6. 
Wlien the war closed he resumed his practice of law at Middletown, 
Conn. 

In 1785 Congress appointed him a Commissioner to negotiate with Ihe 
Miami Indians. Afterwards he concluded a treaty with the Indians 
about Lake Erie, by which they relinquished their claims to what was 
known as the Connecticut Western Reserve. 

In 1787 he headed a party from New England and colonized a part 
of the reserve near Marietta, Ohio. He Avas appointed the first Judge in 
the Northwest Territory. He died November 17th, 1789. 



LIBERTY PKLMEE 67 

May leth, 1801. William H. Seward born at Florida, Orange County, N. Y 

Graduated at Union College 1820, studied law, admitted to the Bar 
1822. He settled at Auburn and there began practice. lu l»oO he was 
elected to the State Senate, iu which he served for four years. In 1>^:U 
he was nominated for Governor, but defeated, but in 1838 he was elected 
and served in that office until 1842. 

He was the senior member of what Horace Greeley termed the firm of 
"Seward, Weed & Greeley," which, from 1839, succeeded in breaking 
down the "Albany Regency," until 1854, when Mr. Greeley withdrew. 
They controlled the politics of the State of New York, dispensed patron- 
age and even swayed nominations, and iu at least two instances the elec- 
tions of President of tbe United States. This extraordinary political 
combination was chiefly the motive power which placed Mr. Seward in 
positions where his undoubted ability, profound and comprehensive 
knowledge of men, and shrewdness and diplomatic skill could gain their 
best opportunity. 

In 1849 he became the United States Senator from New York, and he 
was reelected in 1855. In 1860 his name was before the Convention as 
a candidate for the Presidency, and on the first ballot he received 173^ 
votes, but the Convention placed Abraham Lmcoln in nomination for 
office, and when Mr. Lincoln was elected and assumed the office he chose 
Mr. Seward as the Secretary of State, which office he held until 1865. 

' ' He defended the action of Commodore Wilkes in taking the Con- 
federate Commissioners, Mason and Slidell, from the British mail steamer 
Trent, but he did so because he claimed that the seizure was in accord- 
ance with the British assertion of a ' right of search. ' If, therefore, the 
British Government abandoned that claim he was willing to give the men 
up, for that implied the acknowledgment of what we fought for in 1812- 
1814. Mr. Seward, in dealing with the affairs of Mexico, firmly main- 
tained the Monroe doctrine, and insisted on the right of American citizens 
to claim damages of Great Britain for the depredations of the Alabama." 

On the evening of April 14th, 1865, a man named Payne entered 
the bedroom of Mr. Seward, who was suffering from an accident, and in- 
flicted several wounds with a dagger. His recovery was slow, but he re- 
sumed his duties. In 1867 he negotiated the purchase of Alaska from 
Eussia. In 1869 he retired from office. During 1870 and 1871 he made 
a tour round the world, an account of which was published in 1873. He 
died at Auburn, N. Y., October 10th, 1872. 

" Mr. Seward was remarkable for his ability to crystalize thought in 
felicitous phrases, which was possessed in so marked a degree by the late 
Lord Beaconsfield. His 'irrepressible conflict' and 'higher law' were 
expressions which gave a character to the history of the tim s." 

May 17th, 1814. The " Groundlov " promulgated at Eidsvold, Norway. 

By the terms of the treaty of Kiel, Norway was transferred from 
Denmark to Sweden January 14tli, 1814. At first the Norwegians were 



68 LLBEETY I'KUUJUJ 

disposed to resist this action in their behalf, Imfc finding that their meang 
for resistance were very limited, and learning tliat the conditions imposed 
by Sweden were liberal, they determined to accept the situation. 

On May 17tb, 1814, the "Groundlov," or "fundamental law,' was 
proniulgatod at Eidsvold, and, with slight modifications, on November 
4th, lullowing, at Christiana. On this principally rests the Constitution 
of Norway. Tlie Swedish succession ordinance of September 2Gth, 1810, 
was accepted by Norway in November, 1814, and the "rigsact," or 
charter of union, adopted in 1815, Norway is a free and independent 
indivisible kingdom, united with Sweden under the same King. 

May 20th, 1690. Death of Rev. John Eliot, the Apostle to the Indians. 

It is said that he was born at Nasing, Essex, England. He was bap- 
tised at Widford, Hertfordshire, on August 5, 1604. He graduated at 
Cambridge in 1G23. He entered the Non-conformist ministry, and to 
avoid persecution emigrated to America, arriving at Boston November 
3d, 1631, where he occupied for a year the pulpit of John Wilson, who 
was absent in England. In 1632, as a colleague of Thomas Welde, he 
was established as "teacher "for the church at Roxbury. In associa- 
tion with Eichard Mather he assisted in the preparation of the "Bay 
Psalm Book." 

In 1646, while still retaining his connection with the Roxbury 
Church, he made his first etfort for the conversion of the Indians. "With 
the help of Pet^uot he acquired their language, and translated many 
texts, the Lord's Prayer and the Ten Commandments. He preached at 
Nonantum (now Brighton) without an iuterpretor. An Indian settle- 
ment was made, and a missionary society organized in England, of 
which Robert Boyle was a leading member. An Indian Cliurch was 
formed at Natick in 16G0, and in 1603 Eliot published a catechism for 
their use, which it is said, was the fii-st book ever published in the In- 
dian language, but at the present there appears to be no copy of this 
book that is known to exist. 

As early as 1651 he began the translation of the Bible into the Mo- 
hegan language, and in 1661 he published the New Testament, which 
was followed in 1663 by the publication of the Old Testament. 

His last words were "Welcome Joy," but he died lamenting that 
his labors had been so jwor and small. He died at Roxbury, leaving 
four sons, who were all educated at Harvard, and who all entered the 
ministry. 

May 20th, 1775. The Declaration at Mecklenburg. 

In the Month of March or April, 1775, the leading men of the 
County of Mecklenburg held meetings to ascertain the sense of the peo- 
ple pnd to confirm them in their opposition to the claims of Parliament 
to impose taxes and regulate the internal policy ©f the colonies. At one 
of these meetings, when it was ascertained that the people were prepared 
to meet their wishes, it Avas agreed that Thomas Polk, th&»C'oIouel Com- 



LIBERTY PRIMEE 69 

niandant of the county, shonld issno an order directed to each captain of 
militia, requesting him to call a company meeting and elect two dele- 
gates from his comjjany to meet in general committee at Charlotte, ou 
the 19th of May, giving to the delegates ample j>ower to adopt such 
measures as, to them, should seem best calculated to promote the com- 
mon cause of defending tho riglits of the colony and aiding their brethren 
in Massachusetts. Colonel Polk issued the order and the delegates were 
elected. They met at Charlotte on the day apjjointed. The forms of 
there proceeding and the measures to be proposed had been previously 
agreed upon by the men at whose instance the committee was assembled. 
The Rev. Hezekiah Jones Balch, Dr. Ephraim Brevard aud "William 
Kennon, Esq., an attorney at law, addressed the committee, descanted 
on the causes which had led to the existing contest with the mother 
country, and the consequences which were to be apprehended, unless the 
people made a firm and energetic resistance to the right which Parliament 
asserted of taxing the colonies and regulating their internal policy. 

On the day on which the committee met, the first intelligence of the 
action at Lexington, in Massachusetts, on the 19th of April, was received 
;it Charlotte. This intelligence produced a most decided effect. A large 
concourse of people had assembled to witness the proceedings of the 
committee. The speakers addressed their discourses as well to them as 
to the committee, and those who were not convinced by their reasoning 
were influenced by their feelings, and all cried out, ' ' Let us be independ- 
ent ; let us declare our independence and defend it with our lives and 
fortunes. ' ' A committee was appointed to draw up resolutions. This 
committee was composed of the men who had planned the entire pro- 
ceedings, and who had already prepared the resolutions which it was in- 
tended should be submitted to the committee. Dr. Ephraim Brevard 
had drawn up the resolutions some time before, and now reported them 
as follows : 

" Resolved, That whosoever directly or indirectly abets, or in any 
way, form, or manner countenances the invasion of our rir;ht3, as at- 
tempted by the Parliament of Great Britain, is an enemy to his country, 
to America ani to the rights of man. 

' ' Resolved, That we, the citizens of Mecklenburg County, do hereby 
dissolve the political bonds which have connected us with the mother 
country, and absolve ourselves from all allegiance to the British crown, 
adjuring all political connection with a nation that has wantonly trampled 
on our rights and liberties, and inhumanly shed the innocent blood of 
Americans at Lexington. 

"Resolved, That we do hereby declare ourselves a iree and inde- 
pendent people ; that we are and of right ought to be a sovereign and 
self-governing people under the power of God and the General Congress ; 
to the maintenance of which independence we solemnly pledge each 
other, our mutual cooperation, our lives, our fortunes and our sacred 
honor. 



70 I.IBKKTY J'KIMEK 

" Resolved, That we do solemnly ordaia and adopt as rules of con- 
duct, all and each of our former laws, aud the crown of Great Britain 
cannot he considered hereafter as holding any rights, privileges or im- 
munities among us. 

"Resolved, That all officers, both civil and military, in this county 
be entitled to exercise the same power and authorities as heretofore ; that 
every member of their delegation shall henceforth be a civil officer and 
exercise the power of a justice of the peace, issue process, hear and de- 
termine controversies according to law, preserve peace, union and har- 
mony in the county, and use every exertion to spread the love of liberty 
and of countrj^ until a more general and better organized system of gov- 
ernment be established. 

"Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be transmitted by ex- 
press to the President of the Continental Congress, assembled in Phila- 
delphia, to be laid before that body." 

These resolutions were unanimously adopted and subscribed to by the 
delegates. James Jach, then of Charlotte, but now residing in the State 
of Georgia, was engaged to be the bearer of the resolutions to the Presi- 
dent of Congress, and directed to deliver copies of them to the delegates 
in Congress from North Carolina. The President returned a polite 
answer to the address which accompanied the resolutions, in which he 
highly approved of the measures adopted by the delegates of Mecklen- 
burg, but deemed the subject of the resolutions premature to be before 
Congress. Messrs. Caswell, Hooper and Hew forwarded a joint letter, in 
•which they complimented the people of Mecklenburg for their zeal in the 
common cause, and recommended to them the strict observance of good 
order ; that the time would soon come when the whole continent would 
follow their example. — MartMs History of North Carolina, volume 2, chap- 
ter XL 



May 22d, 1786. Arthur Tappan born at Northampton, Mass. 

He received a common school education and entered a hardware 
store in Boston, where he remained from 1800 to 1807, when he removed 
to Montreal ; but at the opening of the war of 1812 he went to New 
York city, where he established himself in the dry-goods business, 
in which he became very successful. He was one of the founders 
of the American Tract Society, and contributed liberally for its first 
building. He assisted in the establishment of the Lane Theological 
Seminary (Presbyterian) at Cincinnati, Ohio, and founded a professorship 
at Auburn Seminary, and erected Tappan HaU at Oberlin, Ohio. In 
1828, associated with his brother Lewis, he established the New York 
Journal of Commerce, and in 1 833 established at his own expense the 
journal known as the Emancipator. 

He originated the New York Anti-Slavery Society and on the 'id of 
October, 1833, became its President. He was also the President of the 



LIBERTY PKIMEE 71 

American Anti-Slavery Society which was organized at Philadelphia. 
To aid the Anti-Slavery cause he contributed $1,000 per month until the 
failure of his business in 1842, when he went into bankruptcy and sur- 
rendered all his property. He then connected himself with the mercan- 
tile agency, which had been established by his brother Lewis. He died 
at New Haven, Conn., July 23d, 1865. 



May 23d, 1788. South Carolina Ratifies the Constitution. 

The Palmetto State, South CaroUna, was the eighth State to ratify 
the Constitution. 

In 1562 Admiral Colignay obtained from Charles IX. of France per- 
mission to plant a colony of French Protestants in Florida. An expedi- 
tion of two vessels sailed February 18th, 1562. Fearing the Spanish, 
they came to the north and made a landing on Lemon Island, which 
they named in honor of the king, Arx Carolina. They built Fort 
Charles near the present site of Beaufort. Leaving here twenty-six 
colonists, the ships returned to France, but the colony was soon aban- 
doned. In 1564 French Protestants made a settlement on Riviere de 
Mai, now the St. John's River. In 1565 Ribault returned with seven 
ships and took command of the colony. Pedro Menendez de Aviles, 
vrith a fleet of thirty-four Spanish vessels, attacked the colonists. Fort 
Caroline was captured and the greater part of the inhabitants massacred, 
some few escaping to the ships of Ribault, who set sail for St. Augustine, 
but was wrecked. Being in almost a starving condition, Ribault, under 
a promise of safety, surrendered ; but nearly all were massacred, most of 
them being hung to trees and left, their bodies bearing an inscription 
reciting that they were killed "Not as Frenchmen but as ieretics." 
This cruelty was avenged by an expedition under the command of Dom- 
inique de Gourges, who sailed in three vessels on August 22d, 1567. 
Touching at Puerto de la Plata they secured a pilot. A landing was 
made at the mouth of the St. Mary's, where a league was formed with 
the native chief Saturiba and an attack made upon the Spanish forts. 
The Sxianiards were hung upon the same trees, bearing placards, "Not 
as Spaniards but as cut-throats and murderers." 

In 1670 a settlement was made by the English at Port Royal under 
Governor Sayle, which was afterwards removed to the present site of 
Charleston, the territory then being only a part of the Carolina Province. 
The repeal of the Edict of Nantes (October 17th, 1685,) drove over 
500,000 Huguenots out of France, and a large number sought freedom in 
America, many coming to South Carolina. The Church of England was 
in 1703 established by law in the colony. In 1719 the proprietary gov- 
ernment was superseded by that of the people. In 1729 the country was 
purchased from the proprietors by the English Parliament, and the 
Province divided into North and South Carolina. The State Constitution 
was adopted March 26th, 1776. 



72 LIBEKTY I'KniKB 

May 24th, 1689. The Toleration Act. 

An Act l)y wliith "William III. and Mary his Queen, conceded to 
British subjects the lijiht of" every man to think for himself in matters of 
relijiion. Since then the dissenters have enjoyed the l)enetits of this Act 
without interruption, although their liberties were fjreatly endanjiered 
during the latter part of the reign of Queen Anne. This Act became law 
August 1st, 1714. 

May 24th, 1819. Sailing of Steamer Savannah for Liverpool from Savannah. 
She arrived in port after a voyage of twenty-five days, on July li'th. 
She was built at New York by John Fichelt, the engines being made at 
IMoiTistown, N. J. Just after she left the stocks John Scarljorough pur- 
chased her. "^Tien she arrived off Cape Clear she was sighted, and sup- 
posing her to be on fire a cutter was sent out to her assistance. After 
she got into port a rumor became current that she intended to re.scue 
Napoleon at St. Helena, and a constant watch was therefore kept upon 
her movements. Her owner offered her to the Swedish and the Russian 
governments, but neither cared to 1my her. She made the return trip 
to New York, but was finally lost off Long Island. 

P.lay 24th, 1822. The Battle of Mount Pichincha, Ecuador. 

The Royalists, after the cavalry action at Rio Bamba on April 21st, 
retreated to the inaccessible position of Jalupano. Then Sucre, by a 
flank movement of four days' march over the snow-covered heights of 
Cotopaxi, gained the valley of Chillo, fourteen miles from Quito, but 
found the enemy again in an inaccessible position between him and the city. 
On the night of the 23d of May, during a heavy rain, the patriot army 
defiled by a narrow road covered with loose stones, over the slopes of the 
volcano Pichincha, and at eight o'clock the following morning reached 
the heights overlooking the city of Quito, where the steep mountain side 
below them was covered with a forest of trees and brushwood. 

Before the whole army had reached their position the Royalists had 
ascended the mountain side and rushed out of the forest upon the 2d 
Battalion of Peru, which led the van. Colonel Olazabal, who was in 
command, stubbornly held the ground until his ammunition was ex- 
hausted. The position was held by one battalion after another, as each 
came up the mountain, so long as any cartridges were left, for the reserve 
ammunition was far in the rear. The Royalists gained the ground ; then 
a Columbian regiment charged with the bayonet and recovered the posi- 
tion. The Royalists advancing under the cover of the trees endeavored 
to turn the left flank of the patriots, but were in their turn taken in the 
flank by the companies of the Albion battalion and driven back in con- 
fusion. Colonel Cordara then brought up his regiment of Columhiau 
Infantry, and with the aid of the Albion, drove the Royalists down the 
niountain side in a rout. On such ground the cavalry on neither side 
could come into action, but the Royalist horse drawn up as a reserve in 



LIBEKTY PRIMER 73 

the.sTxburbs>of the city. Avasattacked later on by the«patriot cavalry and 
dispersed. 

Sucr4 then summoned the city to surrender. The next day, May 
28th, 1822, Ammerich capitulated. The Royalists lost 160 officers, 1,100 
men taken prisoners, 400 killed and 190 wounded, 14 guns and all their 
flags. The patriots had 200 killed, of whom half belonged to the auxil- 
iaries from Peru, and 140 wounded. 

The victory of Pichincha was the seal of the Continental Alliance, 
&nd concluded the war in the north. The Liberator (Bolivar) entered 
Pasto in triumph, and on the 8th of June addressed a bulletin to the 
Columbian people. 

' ' From the banks of the Orinoco to the Andes of Peru the liberating 
army march, from one triumph to another, has covered with its protecting 
arms the whole of Columbia ; share with me the ocean of joy which 
bathes my heart, and raise in your own hearts altars to this army which 
has conquered for you glory, peace and liberty." — Emancipation of South 
America. 

May 24th, 1844. The Electric Telegraph. "What hath God Wrought ?" 

Professor Samuel F. B. Morse patented the telegraph in 1837. Con- 
gress, after considerable delay, voted an appropriation of $30,000 to give 
the invention a test and put it into a position of usefulness. A line of 
wires was run from the city of Washington to Baltimore, and when all 
was completed, at the signal of Professor Morse, in Baltimore, Miss Annie 
Ellsworth, daughter of the Commissioner of Patents, sent over the first 
message in the words, ' ' What hath God wrought ?' ' 

May 25th, 1787. The Constitutional Convention at Philadelphia. 

In November, 1777, Congress adopted "Articles of Confederation and 
Perpetual Union, ' ' but they were not fully accepted until March 1st, 
1781. Congress was a mere name ; there were still thirteen sovereign 
States, united, it is true, but liable to be torn apart by party variances at 
any time. Something better was necessary. ISIaryland and Virginia held 
the Potomac River and Chesapeake Bay, and certain questions coming 
up called for the adjustment of differences. Commissioners for the two 
States met at Alexandria in March, 1785, and they then went to Mount 
Vernon, where it was determined to appeal to Congress for power and 
authority to establish a naval force on these waters, and to devise a sys- 
tem of export and import duties and also to urge the calKng of a Conven- 
tion of Commissioners of the States to consider and report upon these 
matters. The Legislature of Virginia approved of these recommendations 
and passed a resolution to place the subject before Congress and the Leg- 
islatures of other States, with an invitation for them to send commis- 
sioners who should attempt to found a system of commercial relations 
+hat would be for the best interests of all, and that might promote harmony 
and prosperity. Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and New York ap- 



74 LIBERTY IJJlMliU 

pointed such Commiissioncrs, Tvho met those of Maryland and Virginia at 
Annapolis, Md., on September 14th, 1786. Soon after coming together, the 
Convention found that their jwwers were too limited to cope Avith the ques- 
tions that presented themselves for their consideration, and they deter- 
mined to adjourn without taking any inip<^)rtant step, hut a report was 
prepared with resolutions recommending the call of a Convention to meet 
at Philadelphia, whose delegates should be clothed with greater power, 
and authorized to re%dse the articles of Confederation which united the 
States. This report was submitted to Congress, when a resolution was 
passed calling such a Convention, 

The Convention assembled on Friday, May 25th, 1787, and sat with 
closed doors until September 17, when the text of the new Constitution 
was promulgated. There were fifty-live delegates. 

The first plan was submitted by Edmund Eandolph, of Virginia ; 
Charles Pinckney, of South Carolina, introduced another, William Pat- 
terson, of New Jersey, another, and Alexander Hamilton, of New York, 
another. 

On June 13th, the Committee of the Whole reported a modification 
of the Virginia plan. 

On June 14th, the New Jersey plan was introduced by William 
Patterson. 

On July 24th, various resolutions and plans were referred to a Com- 
mittee of Detail. 

On August 6th, the Committee of Detail reported. 

On September 13th, Constitution was reported substantially as 
adopted. 

On September 17th, the Constitution was promulated and the Con- 
vention adjourned. The papers were placed in the hands of Washington 
for safety, subject to the disposal of the new Congress, and in 1796 they 
were deposited with the State Department. 

May 25th, 1810. The People of Buenos Ay res repudiate the Viceroy. 

In 1806 Sobremonte was the Spanish Viceroy over the La Plata 
country. On June 27th of that year. General Beresford landed with a 
body of British troops from a fleet under command of Sir Home Popham 
and captured the city of Buenos Ayres. General Liniers collected and 
organized an army, and on the 12th of August compelled Beresford to 
surrender. General Whitelock effected a landing on June 28th, 1807, at 
Ensenada, and on July 1st attacked the Spanish force under Liniers at 
Pass of Eiachuelo, whom he routed. On July 5th he attempted to take 
Buenos Ayres by storm, renewing the attack on the 6th, but the British 
force was badly beaten, and surrounded, and with a loss of 2,000, com- 
pelled to surrender, the British stipulating to leave Montevidio by 
September 1st. 

In 1808 Joseph Buonaparte was crowned King of Spain ; the Argen- 
tines refused to accept the Napoleonic dynasty. Liniers was now 



LIBERTY PKIMER 75 

Viceroy, but on the 19th of July the people deposed him, and made Cis- 
neros Viceroy in the name of Ferdinand VII. The people now demanded 
that the country should be opened for trade with foreign nations, under 
the title, "United ProAinces of the Rio de la Plata." An attempt was 
made by the Spanish party to make Cisneros President of the Junta, but 
it failed and he retired to Montevidio. On January 31st, 1813, a Congress 
was assembled at Buenos Ayres, and on January 22d, 1814, Don Gervasio 
Antonio Posadas was elected to the office as "Supreme Dictator." 

May 25th, 1810. Governor and Captain-General deposed by the people of 
Chile. 

Carrasco ordered the arrest of three leading citizens of Santiago, as 
advocates of revolutionary ideas. The municipal authorities protested 
and convened an open cabildo, which cited the Governor before them. 
At first he ^vished to resist, but 3,000 men were in the Plaza, and the 
people shouted for his deposition. A new Procurator, elected by the 
cabildo, opened the case, declaring that it was the will of the people 
that the prisoners should be set free, and the cabildo would remain sitting 
till it was done. This was the first time that such a thing as " the wiU 
of the people " had been heard in Chile, and the speech of the new 
tribune was loudly applauded. Carrasco yielded, and decreed not 
only the liberation of the prisoners, but also the dismissal from their 
posts of those who had aided in the arbitrary measure. He also accepted 
the control of an Assessor, without whose authorization his judicial acts 
in the future should be invalid. These decrees were endorsed by the 
Audieneia, which was a virtual dismissal from office of the last Governor 
and Captain-General of Chile. — The Emancipation of South America. 

Carrasco was compelled to resign his power into the hands of Count 
de la Conquista, a Chilian noble, who was eighty-five years old. The 
Patriots surrounded the new Governor with councillors in whom they 
could trust. 

May 25th, 1826. The Constitution of Bolivia. 

The Constitution, in consequence of frequent revolutions, has been 
often modified and altered, and at times set aside altogether. It is 
founded upon the strictest principles of justice as regards civil rights and 
privileges. The supreme authority is vested in a " Presidente Vitalicio, ' ' 
with the power of naming a successor. It guarantees to Bolivians civil 
liberty, security of person and property, and equality of rights, the free 
exercise and communication of thoughts and opinions, either through the 
press or otherwise. No profession, trade or employment can be prohib- 
ited, unless it is repugnant to public feeling, injurious to health or 
security of the community. All legitimate powers emanate from the 
people. 

The present Constitution of Bolivia was adopted October 17th, 1880, 
and is a modification of that which was adopted in 18'(2. 



76 LIBERTY PRIMKR 

May 27th, 1738. Nathaniel Gorham born at Charlestown, Mass. 

He was well educated, and began business at Charlestown. In 1771 
he was chosen to represent that city in the House of Kepresentatives : in 
1779 he Avas a member of the State Constitutional Convention ; in 17^4, 
elected to Congress, and in 1787 chosen as a member of the Convention 
that framed the Federal Constitution, and a mem1)er of the State Con- 
vention which adopted it. He died June 11th, 1796. 

May 29th, 1765. Virginia resolutions against the right of Taxation. 

The resolutions, live in number, wore introduced to the House of 
Burgesses by Patrick Henry, who has himself given the following in- 
teresting particulars: "They formed the first opposition to the Stamp 
Act and the scheme for taxing America by the British Parliament. (He 
had not been informed of the action of Massachusetts.) All the colonies, 
either through fear or want of opportunity to form an opposition, or from 
influence of some kind or other, had remained silent. I had been the 
first time elected Burgess a few days before, was young, inexperienced, 
unacquainted with the forms of the House and the members that com- 
posed it. Finding the men of weight averse to opposition, and the com- 
mencement of the tax on hand, and that no one was likely to step forth, 
I determined to venture alone, unadvised and unassisted. On a blank 
leaf of an old law book wrote the within (resolutions). Upon offering 
them to the House, Adolent debates ensued. JNIany threats were uttered 
and much abuse cast upon me by the party of submission. After a long 
and warm contest the resolutions were passed by a very small majority, 
perhaps of one or two only. The alarm spread throughout America 
with astonishing quickness and the ministerial party were overwhelmed. 
The great point of resistance to British taxation was universally estab- 
lished in the colonies. This brought on the war, which finally separated 
the two countries and gave independence to ours. Whether this will 
prove a blessing will depend upon the use our people make of the blessings 
which a gracious God hath bestowed on us. If they are wise they will 
be great and happy. If of a contrary' character they will be miserable. 
Eighteousness alone can exalt us as a nation." — Wirt's Life of Patrick 
Henry. 

May 29th, 1736. Patrick Henry born at Studley, Hanover County, Va. 

He was the second son of John Henry, a Scotchman from Aberdeen. 
He attended the county school, but when he was ten years old his father 
opened a grammr school in his own house. He displayed no fondness for 
study except in mathematics, and at the age of fourteen years was placed 
as a clerk in a country store. When sixteen a partnership was formed 
with his brother, but they did not succeed. He tried again keeping 
store and failed. He tried farming with no better success. He was des- 
perately poor. When twenty-four yeai-s old he began the study of law, 
and at the end of a month he had the boldness to ask for a license to 
practice. 



LIBERTY PRIMER 77 

In 1763 a controversy arose which created considerable excitement 
throughout the entire colony. It was a case "between the clergy on the 
one hand, and the Legislature and the people on the other, touching the 
stipend claimed by the tbrnier." The case was before the Court in the 
Noveuaber term and was argued by Mr. Lyons on the part of the plain- 
tiff, and Mr. John Lewis for the defendants. The Court sustained a de- 
murrer and the case went over to December 1st. Mr. Lewis, thoroughly 
convinced that the case was hopeless, retired, refusing to have anything 
more to do with it. In this desperate condition Henry was asked to 
argue the case and undertook to do it. "VNTien the Court opened there 
was an unusually large attendance, more than twenty of the clergy be- 
ing present, and Henry's own father sitting as the presiding judge. Mr. 
Lyons opened the case very briefly and concluded with a high eulogium 
on the benevolence of the clergy. It was now time for Henry to speak. 
" He was very awkward and faltered much in his exordium. The people 
hung their heads at so unpromising a commencement ; the clergy were ob- 
served to exchange sly looks with each other ; his father is described as 
having almost sunk with confusion from his seat. But these feelings 
were of short duration and soon gave place to others of a very different 
character. Now the wonderful faculties which he possessed for the first 
time developed ; and now was first witnessed that mysterious and al- 
most supernatural transformation of appearance, which the fire of his 
own eloquence never foiled to work in him. The ministers left their 
bench under the withering invective and the jury had scarcely left the 
Bar when they returned with a verdict of one penny damacfes." 

In 1765 he was made a member of the House of Burgesses. At a 
critical point of the Stamp Act debate he hastily wrote a resolution 
"which set forth that the Burgesses and the Governor had the exclusive 
right and power to levy taxes and imposts upon the people of the colony, 
and that not alone the Stamp Act, but all the acts of Parliament affect- 
ing the rights of the colonies were unconstitutional and therefore 
void." During the debate he startled the House by exclaiming, "Caesar 
had his Brutus ! Charles the First his Cromwell ! and George the 
Third — " here he was stopped by cries of " Treason, Treason, Treason," 
and called to order by the Speaker, but when he had an opportunity to 
finish he continued, ^^ may profit hij their example,''^ and he added, "it 
that be treason make the most of it. ' ' The resolutions were adopted by 
a majority of one. 

Associated with Richard Henry and Arthur Lee, Thomas Jeiferson 
and Dabney Carr in 1773, they formed the "Committee of Correspond- 
ence, to disseminate information and to kindle the flame of liberty 
throughout the entire continent." 

He was a delegate to the first Continental Congress of 1774, and after 
its organization was the first to address that body. He returned home 
in October, when he was elected to the Convention which met at Rich- 
mond in March, 1773. He urged in this body "the necessity of em- 



78 l.llUJKTV I'UIMEE 

bodying, arming and disciplining Ihu militia, and notwithstanding his 
resolution was opiwsed by and resisted by some of the ablest men and 
patriots of the Convention, he urged them the more, with an impas- 
sioned speech that convinced all. He took his seat ; no manner of ap- 
plause was heard ; the effect was too deep. After the trance of a moment 
several members started from their seats. The cry ' to arms ' seemed 
to quiver oti every lip and gleam in every eye. They became impatient 
ot speech, their souls were on fire for action." In May, 1775, he col- 
lected some militia and marched them upon Williamsburg to arrest the 
Royal Receiver General or secure the return or pay for some powder that 
had been removed by the Governor. An agent of Lord Dunmore met 
him and paid £330 for the powder. Two regiments were raised and 
Henry was named as Commander of all the forces. The first action was 
at Great Bridge, on December 9th, 1775. Colonel Woodford had com- 
mand and gained a victory. Henry was dissatisfied and resigned. 

He took an active part in the Convention of 1776, when the Virginia 
delegates were instructed to demand the independence of the colonies. 
He was elected to Congress and reelected in 1779. He was then elected 
to the Legislature and served during the war from 1780 to 1785, when he 
resigned through the pressure of debt, ha^^Ilg "never been in easy cir- 
cumstances." He was a member of the Virginia Convention that rati- 
fied the Federal Constitution and most vigorously opposed its adoption. 
He declined a nomination for Congress in 1791. the offer of Secretary of 
State in 1795 and the French Mission in 1797, but in 1799 was again 
elected to the Legislature, although he never took his seat, his death oc- 
curring June 6th, 1799. 

May 29th, 1790. Rhode Island Ratifies the Constitution. 

Rhoda or Little Rhody. Rhode Island was the thirteenth and last 
State to ratify the Constitution. 

In 1636 Roger Williams was driven out of ISIassachnsetts because of 
his lil)eral opinions. In 1638 William Coddington and others were ban- 
ished. These persons purchased from the Indians the island of Aquet- 
neck, or Aquetnec, or Aquidneck, which has since been called Rhode 
Island. 

When the New England Confederacy was formed Rhode Island 
applied for membership. The Commissioners decided that Rhode Island 
might enjoy the advantages of the union if she would come in under 
the jurisdiction of Plymouth. This she stoutly refused to do, pre- 
ferring independence rather than a dependent union. 

In 1644 Roger Williams obtained a new charter for *' The Providence 
Plantations in the Narraganset Bay." 

In 1663 Charles II. granted a charter to Rhode Island and Provi- 
dence Plantations. 

In July, 1685, charges were preferred against the patent and in 
December, 1686, Sir Edmund Andros dissolved the government of Rhode 



LIBERTY I'RIMEh 79 

Island, broke its seal and assumed the administration. T\Tien the revo- 
lution destroyed the power of the British governor, Khode Island and 
Providence again assumed its charter, and the officers who had Ijeen 
deposed resumed their functions. 

May 29th, 1848. Wisconsin admitted to the Union. 

The Badger State. Wisconsin was the seventeenth State admitted 
to the Union. The earliest settlement was made upon Green Bay by 
the French in 1631, and afterwards at Prairie du Chien on the Alississippi, 
Then followed a war with the Indians to obtain the right of way through 
Lake Winnebago. Up to 1796 all this region was under the laws of 
Canada and subject to British rule, but during that year possession was 
yielded to the United States, which had organized the territory northwest 
of the Ohio Eiver to the Mississij)pi River as the Northwest Territory 
in 1787. 

In 1805 the Territory of Michigan was cut out of this vast section, 
and in 1836 reduced to its present limits, or nearly so, and the Territory 
of Wisconsin organized. In 1 838 Iowa, Alinnesota and Dakotah were set 
oflf, leaving Wisconsin.as it now stands. 

A convention sat at Madison from October to December, 1838, and 
prepared a Constitution, which was approved by Congress, but rejected 
"by the people. A second convention was then held and a Constitution 
reported that was adopted by a vote of 16,412 to 6,149. 

May 30th, 1639. Dorchester, Mass., Public School. 

In the records of the town of Dorchester, Mass. (page 83), it is stated 
that the colony appropriated the income of Thompson's Island, in which 
every settler had a direct interest, to the maintenance of a school under 
the control of the selectmen, and that the Eev. Mr. Waterhouse was 
appointed teacher. This was in every sense a free public school, such 
as is always in everybody's mind when the term is used ; that is, a 
school open and free to all, supported at the expense of all through gen- 
eral taxation, and until some well authenticated record is produced of a 
school similarly founded and sustained at an earlier date than May 30th, 
1639, the Dorchester people will continue to claim the spot of ground at 
the corner of Cottage and Pleasant streets, as the birthplace of the Amer- 
ican Public School System. — Bev. Willis B. Medum. 

May 30th, 1868. Decoration Day. 

An official proclamation of the head of the organization known as 
the Grand Army of the Republic was issued, selecting the thirtieth day 
of the month of May, * ' the month of flowers, " as an anniversary to be 
observed for decorating soldiers' graves. 

On fame's eternal camping ground 

Their silent tents are spread, 
And glory guards with solemn sound 
The bivouac of the dead. 
In 1875 New York made Decoration Day a legal holiday. 



8U 



LIIJKKTY J'KJMEK 



June 1790. Jose Antonio Paez born at Barinas, Venezuela. 

"He was a j:tiiuine Creole, of Caucasian rate, witli some stron;^ 
mixture of native ])l(K)d, a man of herculean strenj^tli, a hreaker-in of 
wild horses, and an untiring swimmer. tSkilful in the use of lance and 
sword, in moments of danger he was ever in the front rank, and had. 
great influence over his men, both by personal and moral qualities." His 
men called him " Uncle " when they addressed him. " His plans were 
carefully wrought out and rapidly executed. He wore a Toledo sword, 
and invariably carried a long lance." On February IGth, 181G, with .'300 
cavalry he defeated the Spanish Governor of Barinas, who had a force of 
1,100 horse aud 300 infantry at Guadalito ; 400 of the enemy were killed 
and 200 made prisoners. This aflfair attracted the attention of the Llane- 
ros and won them to the cause of independence. Paez was but an 
obscure Captain, who had served through the <-ampaigns up to this time 
unobserved; recruits poured in upon him, and he rose at once to the 
position of first General of Cavalry in America. He organized the 
Army of the Apure, which was conspicuous all through the war of 
Independence. 

On November 7th and 8th, 1823, he attacked and took by storm the 
last royalist stronghold. Puerte Cabello, aud with this action the war of 
independence came to an end, and the Spanish rule in South America 
came to a conclusion. A revolution, under General Cordova, broke out 
at Antioquia, September 14tli, 1829, which was crushed, Cordova being 
brutally murdered. At the end of this year Venezuela declared herself 
an independent Republic with General Paez as President. 

In 1831 he was elected the first Constitutional President and retained 
the office for four years. In 1838 he was again elected President, and 
presented by Congress with a sword of honor. The same year he was 
presented with another sword of honor by William IV., King of Great 
Britain and Ireland. 

In 1842 he brought from New Grenada the remains of Bolivar, and 
had them interred with much pomp at Caracas, the native city of 
the Liberator. 

In 1843 Paez retired to private life, but the mal-administ ration of 
President Monagas brought about a revolution in which Paez took jiart. 
He was captured and imprisoned at Camane, and was released only upon 
condition that Le should leave the country. He retired to the City of 
New York. 

A successful revolution in 1859 led to his recall to Venezuela as Dic- 
tator, and the United States placed two vessels with a military and naval 
escort at his disposal to take him back to his country. He, however, 
soon resigned and returned to New York, where he resided until his 
death, in May, 1874. 

He was buried in one of the vaults of the ' * Marble Cemetery ' ' in 
Second Avenue, where his remains laid until the government of Venez- 
uela sent for them aud re-interred them in his native soil. 



LIBKKTY PRIMKR 81 

June 1st, 1739. George Clymer born at Philadelphia, Pa. 

His parents died -vvlien he was very youug. Later he entered the 
mercantile business with a Mr. Kitchie, but abandoned it for agriculture 
and politics. He was chosen a member of the Council of Safety. On July 
29th, 1775, appointed one of the first Continental Treasurers. This office he 
held until elected to the Continental Congress of 1776. Signed the Dec- 
laration of Independence. Reelected to Congress in 1777 and continued 
a member until May 19th, 1778, when, on account of sickness, he retired. 
In 1780 elected again to Congress, remaining until November 12th, 1782. 
November, 1782, he removed to Princeton, N. J . Member of the Consti- 
tutional Convention. Elected to Congress for two years, declining a 
reelection. He was now employed in the Excise office, and afterwards 
in negotiating a treaty with the Creek and Cherokee Indians of Georgia. 
He was president of a Philadelphia bank. He died at Morrisville, Bucks 
County, Pa., January 23d, 1813. "'Mr. Clymer possessed a strong intel- 
lect from nature, which he improved by culture and study. Retired, 
studious, contemplative, he was ever adding something to his knowl- 
edge and endeavoring to make that knowledge useful. His predominant 
passion was to promote every scheme for the improvement of his country, 
whether in science, agriculture, polite education, or the useful fine arts. 
His conversation was of the most instructive kind, and manifested an 
extensive knowledge of books and men. He was a man of irreproachable 
morals and of a pure heart. In the domestic circle and in friendly inter- 
course he appeared to peculiar advantage. ' ' 

June 1st, 1792. Kentucky admitted to the Union. 

The second State admitted to the Union, "Corn Cracker" State, 
"dark and bloody ground." First explored by Daniel Boone and John 
Finley, who had many conflicts with the Indians. First settlement was 
Harrodsburg, 1774. This country appears to have been the common hunt- 
ing ground for different tribes of Indians, but in the possession of none of 
them. John Finley was the first white man to explore the land, who 
went there with a few companions in 1767 from North Carolina. In 1769 
Daniel Boone, Finley and five others visited the region, and in 1770 James 
Knox and some others from Virginia made extensive surveys with the de- 
sign of locating land-bounty warrants. Captain James Harrod built his 
cabin at what is now Harrodsburg in 1774, and in 1775 Daniel Boone 
erected a post at Boonesborough. The Indians constantly harassed the 
settlers. In March, 1775, Richard Henderson, with Daniel Boone, made a 
treaty with the Cherokee Indians and bought from them' a large tract of 
land south of the Lower Kentucky River. Boone was sent to mark out 
a road and begin a settlement, and Boonesborough was established. 
Governor Dunmore of Virginia denounced the sale, and in a proclama- 
tion offered the land for sale on behalf of the crown. Notwithstanding 
the Governor's proclamation, delegates from Boonesborough and Harrods- 
burg met at the former place and organized an Assembly forming a new 



82 I.IIJKKTV I'IMMKK 

Plate, which llioy iiained "Transylvania," and a compact was made 
with the propiietoi-s. lu September tlie proi)rietors met at Oxford, 
(jreeuville County, N. C, and James Hogg was apjwinted a delegate 
for Transylvania to the Co«tiuental Congress, but the claim of Virginia 
to the Territory Larred his admission to that body. The Legislature 
of Virginia annulled the Henderson purchase, but Henderson finally 
received a tract of land about twelve miles square on the Ohio River, 
below the mouth of the Green River, in settlement of his claim. In 
177G Kentucky was organized as a county of Virginia, and Virginia held 
jurisdiction over it during the war. When the Revolution closed, the 
people sought a peaceable separation from Virginia. In 1784 Kentucky 
was ceded to the General Government, although the cession was not 
consummated until 1786. Mr. John Jay was at the time U. S. Minister 
to Spain, and a rumor became current that he had ceded to Spain the 
right to the navigation of the Mississippi River. Spanish intrigue set 
to work to have the people of Kentucky set up an independent gov- 
ernment, promising special commercial advantages in such a case. This 
excitement was maintained until Kentucky became a member of the 
Union. In 1790 the Territory of Kentucky was organized, the popu- 
lation numbering 73,667, of whom 12,4o0 w^ere slaves. Indian wars 
continued, and there was great dissatisfaction arising from neglect of pro- 
tection and a burdensome whiskey tax. The scheme for independence 
was revived, but the retrocession of Louisiana to France and its purchase 
by the United States, put an end to the pending troubles. Tlie State 
came into the Union June 1st, 1792, and from that time the development 
has been rapid. The State troops took part in the fighting on the River 
Raisin during the war of 1812-14. There was a strong effort made to 
make Kentucky secede during the Civil War, but she never left the 
Union. The State Constitution was adopted by a convention at Frank- 
fort August 17th, 1799. 

June 1st, 1796. Tennessee admitted to the Union. 

The third State admitted to the Union. The name is from Tan- 
nassee, the Indian name given to the Little Tennessee River. It is 
called "The Big Bend State." It was originally included in the charter 
of North Carolina, which appears to have had hardly a definite boundary 
line to the west. When the settlers crossed the mountains they found 
the French occupying the line of the Mississippi and the Spanish 
endeavoring to extend their lines on the South from Florida. Some 
settlements were made in 1754 on the Watauga River, but they were 
driven away by Indians. In 1756 or 1757 a settlement was made on the 
Little Tennessee River of Fort Loudon. In 1760 the Cherokees attacked 
the place and massacred over 200 persons, and the same fate befell those 
at Fort Chlssel, on New River. Early in 1761 Colonel Grant routed the 
Clierokees and forced their French and Spanish allies to return to Louis- 
iana and Georgia. Eight years later, emigrants again entered this region, 



l.IBEKTV PRIMER 83 

a number from Virginia f<ettling on the banks of the Holston River. 
The people at Watauga assembled and adopted a constitution and estab- 
lished a local government. The State of Franklin or Frankland was 
established, Colonel John Servier (Xavier) was made Governor, and the 
new State seceded from North Carolina. They held their position for five 
years, when Ser^^er was captured and placed in irons on charge of 
treason. Afterwards, however, he was released without trial. This is 
sometimes called the "Holston Rebellion." In 1784 the North Caro- 
lina Legislature passed an Act of Cessions of their Western territory 
to the United States, but repealed it the following year. A second act 
was adopted in 1790, which transferred the territory south of the 
Ohio, iucluding Kentucky and Tennessee and the defunct State of 
Franklin, giving it the name of "The Territory of the United States 
southwest of the Ohio," or "The Southwestern Territory." The 
northern part was set off 1790 and organized as the Territory of 
Kentucky, and the southern portion was organized as the Territory 
of Tennessee in 1794. The Creek and Cherokee Indians prevented 
settlement in some parts, but they were finally crushed under General 
Jackson in 1814, and the Indians removed west of the Mississippi 
in 1819. In 1776 this portion of North Carolina was ofiicially desig- 
nated as the District of Washington. The first State constitution of 
Tennessee adopted was by convention on February 6th, 1796. 

June 1st, 1832. Death of General Thomas Sumter near Camden, S. C. 

He was born in Virginia in 1734. When a boy he went to South 
Carolina, and in 1776 as Lieutenant-Colonel entered the army. When 
the British had overrun the State, he continued a constant resistance, 
retreating to the swamps when hard jjressed. He was conspicuous at 
Stone Ferry June 20th, 1779, Camden August 16th, 1780, and was sur- 
prised and defeated by Tarleton at Catawba Ford August 18, 1780, but 
was successful at Rocky Mount July 23d, 1780. He represented South 
Carolina from 1789-1793 and from 1797-1801, and was Senator from 
1801-1810. He was U. S. Minister to Brazil 1810-1811. He died at 
Camden, S. C, June 1st, 1832. 

June 2d, 1624. John Sobieski born at Olesko, in Galacia. 

He so distinguished himself in the defensive wars of Poland, that in 
1667 he received the supreme command of the armies, and on the death 
of Michael Corybut was elected King of Poland May 20th, 1674. He 
was known as John III. His father was Jacob Sobieski, Castilian of 
Carcaw. He died June 17th, 1696. 

June 2d, 1773. John Randolph born, statesman. 

He said in his will, "I give my slaves their freedom, to which my 
conscience tells me they are justly entitled." 



84 I lltKKTY I'HIMKK 

June 3d, 1786 General Winfield Scott born at Petersburg Va. 

He was educated at 'William aud Alary's College; studied law. May 
3d, 1808, he was made Captain in the United .States Army. Lieutenant- 
Colonel Second Artillery July Gth, 1812. Colonel March 12th, 1813. 
Colonel Adjutant-General March 18th, 1813. Brigadier-Cieneral March 
9th, 1814. Major-General June 25th, 1841, Commander-in-Chief of 
Army July 5th, 1841. Retired November 1st, 1861. Presented with 
gold medal by Congress November 3d, 1814. Nominated in 1852 for 
the Presidency, but defeated. He was prominent in the "War of 1812 
and also in the Mexican War. May 29th, 1866, he died- 

June 4th, 1805. Peace with Tripoli. 

On the 4th of November, 1796, Barlow (Joel) concluded a treaty with 
the Bashaw of Tripoli. " The price of peace was advanced to the United 
States by the Bey of Algiers," [President Adamses 3Iessnge to Congress 
June 23d, 1797.) But the Bashaw did not rest long contented. In 
April, 1800, he told Cathcart, the American Consul, to say to the Presi- 
dent that he was "pleased with the profTers of friendship," but 
"had his protestations been accompanied with a frigate or brig of war 
* * * he would be still more inclined to believe them genuine." 
On the 12th of May he said to Cathcart : ' ' T\Tiy do not the United States 
send me a voluntary present ? * * * I am an independent Prince 
as well as Bashaw of Tunis, and I can hurt the commerce of any nation 
as much as the Tunisians." The same month he WTote to the Presi- 
dent : " Our sincere friend, we could wish that your expressions were 
followed by deeds and not by empty words. * * * if only flatter- 
ing words are meant without performance, every one will act as he finds 
convenient. We beg a speedy answer, without neglect of time, as a de- 
lay on your part cannot but be prejudicial to your interests." 

"The answer was a naval squadron and a war against Tripoli on land 
and sea, which was terminated on the 4th of June, 1805, by a treaty 
signed on board an American man-of-war in the harbor of Tripoli. 
Nothing was paid for peace. Prisoners were exchanged man for man, 
and $60,000 was paid by the United States for the release of a number 
of American prisoners in the hands of the Tripolians over and above the 
number of Tripolians in the hands of the Americans. There were about 
two hundred." — Treaties and Convetitions of the United States with Other 
Powers, page 1246. 

W^ar was declared by Tripoli against U. S., June 10th, 1801. 

June 4th, 1825. Burial of Major Peter Charles I' Enfant. 

Born in France about 1765. He was an officer of the French line. 
He came to America in 1777, entered the American Army, and in 1778 
he was Captain of Engineers. In the assault on Savannah, under Count 
d'Estaing, October, 1779, he was wounded and taken prisoner. In 1782 
he was exchanged and promoted Major of Engineers. In 1789 he super- 



LIBERTY PRIMER 85 

intended the construction of Federal Hall, New York, corner Wall and 
Nassau streets. Congress having accepted the cession of 6,439 square 
miles from the State of Maryland in 1788 and 3,959 square miles from 
the State of Virginia in 1789, on July 16, 1790, passed an act locating 
the ''Federal Territory" on the Potomac. President Washington sent 
Major I'Enfant there to make a reconnoissance and lay out the plan for 
the "Federal City." The survey was made during the Summer and 
Autumn of 1790. In 1794 he was employed ou Fort Mifflin, below 
Philadelphia. President Monroe appointed him Professor of Engineering 
at West Point. In returning his commission he indoi-sed upon it, " Not 
accepted, but refused." In 1810 Congress appropriated $1,394.20 to pay 
P. C. I'Enfant $C66S, with legal interest from March 1st, 1792, for his 
services in laying out the plan of the City of Washington. On the 
outbreak of the W'ar of 1812 he was made Engineer in constructing 
Fort Washington, but he became involved in disputes with the authorities 
and was relieved. 

For some years he resided with Thomas Diggs at Warburtou Manor, 
near Fort W^ashingtou. After Mr. Diggs' death he accepted a home with 
William Dudley Diggs, a nephew of Lone Head Chilian, Castle Manor, 
now Green Hill, the estate of T. Lauson Diggs, where he died at the age 
of 70 years. He was buried on June 4th, 1825. In 1884, through the 
influence of Mr. Corcoran, Engineer Twining and some others, a bill was 
introduced into the House of Eepreseutatives to remove I'Enfant's re- 
mains to the City of Washington and to erect a suitable monument to 
his memory over them. 

June 5th, 1762. Judge Bushrod Washington born in Westmoreland Co., Va. 
Graduated at William and Mary's College in 1778. Studied law 
■with James W'ilson in Philadelphia and began practice in bis native county. 
Serred as a private during the Revolution. Member of the House of 
Delegates of Virginia in 1787. Gloved to Alexandria, then to Richmond. 
Appointed Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court in 1778, 
holding office until his death. He was the first president of the Amer- 
ican Colonization Society. At the death of Mrs. Washington, he inherited 
Mount Vernon. He died at Philadelphia November 26th, 1829. 

June 6th, 1755. Nathan Hale born at Coventry, Conn. 

Graduated at Yale College in 1773. Taught school at East Haddam 
and New London. After the battle of Lexington he volunteered and was 
made Lieutenant. He was with his regiment and took part in the siege 
of Boston June 17th, 1775, and March 17th, 1776. In 1776 he was pro- 
moted to be Captain. In the summer of 1776 he captured a British 
vessel laying in the Hudson River and brought her to New York. Made 
Captain of the "Connecticut Rangers." He offered to enter the 
Eritish lines and procure important information. In the disguise of 
a royalist school-master, he entere(f the British camps in New York 



88 LIBERTY PBIMES 

and Brooklyn, vrns taken prisoner, sent to New York 8^d delivered to 
Captain Cunningham, the Provost Marshal. His notes were found 
ooccealed in his shoes. Ke was hung in an orchard in New York City 
at the junction of what is East Broadway and Market street, September 
22d, 1776. His last words were : "I only regret that I have but one 
life to lo.se for my country." A stone monument was erected at 
Coventry in 1846 to him, and a bronze statue of him placed in the State 
Capitol of Hartford. Th«^ Society of the Sons of the Revolution of the 
State of New York placed a statue of him in the City Hall Park, New 
York. November 25th, 1893. 

June 7th. 1628. Petition of Right. 

The Commons resolved to offer the King five subsidies, on condition 
of a redress of grievances, which they now embodied in the form of a 
petition known as the Petition of Right, a measure almost equal in 
importance to the Magna Charta itself. Charles agreed to the proposi- 
tion ; but the royal assent was affixed in so ambiguous and unusual a 
manner that the Commons were not satisfied. After much angry alter- 
cation the proper mode of assent was affixed, and Parliament was 
prorogued. The faithless King now published the petition with his first 
answer, and again proceeded to levy tonnage and poundage. The Petition 
of Rights was formed to guard against the recurrence of the following 
grievances : Compulsory loans to the crown ; arrest without lawful 
cause expressed ; the billeting of soldiers in private houses ; the trial of 
soldiers and sailors by martial law, in place of the law of the land. — 3 
Charles I. c. I. 

June 7th, 1776. The Independence Resolutions. 

On June 7th, Richard Henry Lee, in obedience to the Virginia 
instructions, moved in Congress, "That these United Colonies ought to 
be free and independent States, and that all political connection between 
them and the State of Great Britain is and ought to be totally dissolved. " 
The debate on this resolution took place on Saturday, the 8th, and 
Monday, June 10th, when six of the Colonies were j'et unprepared to 
vote. Further consideration of the subject was deferred until July 1st, 
when the debate was resumed and continued for nine hours uninterrupted, 
but no vote was taken. Final action was postponed until the next 
day, July 2d, when the resolution offered by Richard Henry Lee was 
carried, and, July 4th, the Declaration of Independence was adopted by 
Congress. The second day of July was thus the date of the decision by 
Americans that all further political connection with Great Britain should 
be " totally dissolved." On the 20th of June, the Virginia Convention, 
speaking for Virginia, had taken the same step, and had employed the 
same phrase, "totally dissolved." These are the dates : June 15th, 
"A Declaration of Rights of the good people of Virginia," passed by 
a unanimous vote; June 24th, "A Constitution and Form of Gov- 



LIBERTY I'KIMER 87 

eminent" -^vas reported to the Convention, with a preamble declaring 
that all political connection between Virginia and Great Britain was 
"totally dissolved;" June 29tb, the Constitution and preamble were 
adopted by a unanimous vote. — Magazine of American History, May, 
1884. Vol. XL, Xo. 5, page i^SJ. 

June 8th, 1814. David D. Porter born. 
Admiral U. S. Xavy. 

June 9th, 1792. John Howard Payne born. 
Author of " Home, Sweet Home." 

June 11th, 1741. Birth of Dr. Joseph Warren at Roxbury, Mass. 

Graduated at Harvard 1759. IMaster of Eoxbury Grammar School 
1760. Studied medicine under Dr. James Lloyd. Appointed Major- 
General of Massachusetts troops June 14th, 1775. Tendered obedience 
by Putnam and Prescott, but declined to take authority. At the 
moment of retreat at Bunker Hill he fell, June 17th, 1775. His remains 
were found April 4th, 1776, on Bunker Hill, three feet under ground, 
and on April 8th, 1776, they were re-interred at Boston, Mr. Perez Morton 
pronouncing the funeral oration. Some of his sayings are : — 

" Freedom and Equality." 

" It is barely possible Great Britain may depopulate North America ; 
she can never conquer its inhabitants. ' ' 

' • The next news from England must be concilatory, or connection 
between us ends." 

"It is pleasant and becoming to die for one's country." 

June 13th, 1765. Bonifacio Joze d'Andrada e Sylva born at the Villa de 
Santos, near Rio Janeiro. 
He studied at Lisbon, Paris, Frielierg and Pavia. 1810, I'rofessor 
of Metallurgy at Coimbra, afterwards Intendant of Portuguese Mines. 
1812, Perpetual Secretary Lisbon Academy of Sciences. 1819, returned 
to Brazil and became the champion of national independence. Decem- 
ber 24th, 1821, Vice-President of Provincial Junta. January 16th, 1822, 
Minister of Intisica for Dom Pedro I. to October 25th. October 22d, 
1822, Prince Regent ; Dom Pedro I. became Emperor and Andrada was 
made Prime Minister. He was finally displaced on account of his liber- 
alism, July 17th, 1823. November 12th, 1823, banished to France, where 
he resided at Bordeaux until 1827, when he returned home. April 7th, 
1831, Dom Pedro I. abdicated in favor of Dom Pedro II.; Andrada was 
selected as his tutor and guardian. In 1833 he was accused of plotting 
to restore Dom Pedro I., but was acquitted, yet he was deprived of his 
position, and his liberty was restrained. He wrote and published several 
works on mineralogy and metals. He died at Nictheroy, Brazil, April 
6th, 1838. 



88 l.IBKKTY I'HIMKK 

June 13th, 1793 Antonio Jose de Sucre born at Cumana, Venezuela. 

Hou of Don Vifoute tSucrc and Ana Maria de Alcala. He entered the 
army in 1811, and served with credit under Miranda, afterwards under 
Piar. 1814-1817, was on the staff of the Columbian Army, afterwards 
placed in command of a division, and sent to assist the Province of Guay- 
aquil. His great military achievement before his arrival in I'cru was the 
victory of Pichincha. For two years and a half the destinies of Peru 
were placed under the absolute control of Bolivar and Sucr^-. On De- 
cember 9th, 1824, he fought the Royalists under LaSema, who had a 
largely superior force. The Royalists lost 1,400 killed, 700 wounded — 
the Viceroy LaSerna, Generals Cantesac, Valdez, Monet, Villalodos, Car- 
ratala, Landazuri, Bedaya, P'erras, Gascia, Camba, Cacho, Pardo, Vigil 
and Tur, 16 Colonels, 68 Lieutenant-Colonels, 484 subalterns, and 3,200 
privates were made prisoners of war. He received the title of Marshal 
of Ayachucho, and in 1825 was chosen the first President of Bolivia. Chu- 
quisaca was made the capital, its name being changed to Sucre. He was 
assassinated at a place called Berruccos, in the Province of Pasto, June 
4th, 1830. He was universally mourned as an able and gallant soldier, 
a warm friend and generous foe. 

June 14th, 1777. The American Flag. 

Continental Congress adopted the following : 

"' Besolved, That the flag of the Thirteen States be thirteen stripes, 
alternate red and white ; that the union be thirteen stars, white on a blue 
field, representing a new constellation. ' ' 

December 30th, 1890, the Hale joint resolution was passed, providing 
that the American flag should float from the east and west fronts of the 
main portion of the Capitol every day in the year. 

"The symbol of the power and glory and the honor of sixty-five mil- 
lions of Americans. ' ' — George JV. Hoar. 

When Freedom from her mountain height 

Unfurled her standard to the air, 
She tore the azure robe of night, 

And set the stars of glory there : 
She mingled with its gorgeous dyes 
The milky baldric of the skies, 
And striped its pure celestial white 
With streakings of the morning light : 
Then from his mansion in the sun 
She called her eagle bearer down. 
And gave into his mighty hand 
The symbol of her chosen land. 
Forever float that standard sheet ! 

^^^lere breathes the foe, but falls before us. 
With Freedom's soil beneath our feet, 

And Freedom's banner streaminiio'er us. — J. B. Drake. 



LIBEKTY PRIMER 89 

JUne'14th, 1805 Robert Anderson born. 

Commander of Fort Sumter at time of its bombardment by the 
Confederate forces under Beauregard. 

June 15th, 1775. Washington Commander-in-Chief. 

The Continental Congress elected Colonel George Washington, a dele- 
gate from Virginia, General and Commauder-in-Chiefof all the American 
forces. Just before this. Sir Jeffery Amherst was reported to have said 
that "with 5,000 English regulars he would engage to march from one end 
to the other of the Continent of North America. " This being spoken 
publicly in a coffeehouse in North America, Colonel Washington, who 
was present, declared that "with 1,000 Virginians he would engage to stop 
Sir Jeffery Amherst's march." It is the fashion at St. James' to despise 
the Americans, to call them cowards, poltroons, etc., and the resolution 
seems to be taken to put their courage to the proof. The very able, spir- 
ited and prudent conduct of this gallant officer, when he covered and 
preserved the remains of the English army, after one of their defeats in 
the last war in North America, has endeared him to every brave man, 
and stamped him with the name of being a most noble officer. — Journal 
of Congress and London Paper of April 15th, 1775. 

The following staff was appointed by Congress : — Horatio Gates, 
Adjutant-General; Major-Generals, Artemas Ward, of Massachusetts; 
Charles Lee, of Massachusetts ; Philip Schuyler, of Albany, N. Y. ; Israel 
Putnam, of Connecticut. 

General Washington appointed Thomas Mifflin, of Philadelphia, to 
be his Aide-de-Camp ; Major-General Lee appointed Samuel Griffin, of 
Virginia, to be his Aide-de-Camp. 

June 15th, 1775. New Hampshire votes for Independence. 

The Legislature passed a unanimous vote instructing their delegates 
in Congress to unite with the other delegates in declaring the Thirteen 
Colonies free and independent States. 

Jane 15th, 1776. " A Declaration of Rights of the Good People of Virginia." 
The paper was written by George Mason in his room, in the Ealeigh 
Tavern, at W'illiamsburg, without books of reference, and has been de- 
scribed as containing " the quintessence of all the great principles and 
doctrines of freedom wrought out by the people of England from the 
earliest times, and which lie at the foundations of society." Its scope is 
much more extensive than the Magna Charta, or the Petition of Eights, 
and it may be called with truth the first written charter of equal rights 
in history. The writer lays down as a fundamental principle, that all 
men are "by nature equally free and independent, and have certain 
inherent rights, of which they cannot, by any compact, deprive their pos- 
terity, namely, the enjoyment of life and liberty, and the pursuing and 
obtaining of happiness and safety. ' ' All the powers of society are ' ' vested 
in, and consequently derived from, the people ;" and 'magistrates are 



90 I.IHEKTY PKIMEK 

their trustees and servants, and at all times amenable to them." Govern- 
ment is instituted for the benelit of all, and when it transcends its powers, 
' ' a majority of the commuuity has the right to alter or abolish it ; " but the 
majority ought to be those possessing '" sufficient evidence of permanent 
interest with, and attachment to, the commuuity." The freedom of the 
press is "one of the great bulwarks of liberty, and can never be re- 
strained but by despotic governments." The natural defense of a State 
is " a well regulated militia. " Standing armies are " dangerous to lib- 
erty," and ''in all cases the military should be under strict subordina- 
tion to, and governed by, the civil power." As to religion, as that is 
" the duty which we owe to our Creator, the manner of discharging it 
can be directed only by reason and conviction, not by force or violence ; 
and, therefore, all men are equallj' entitled to the free exercise of religion, 
according to the dictates of conscience." — Magazine of American History, 
3Iay, 18S4, Vol. XL, No. 5, page 385. 

June 15th, 1836. Arkansas admitted to the Union. 

The twelfth State admitted to the Union. " The Bear State. " First 
discovered by De Soto, 1541. Visited by Marquette and Joliet in 1673, 
and La Salle, in 1682. The first white settlement was made by French- 
men, near the junction of the St. Francis with the Mississippi, 1680. 

It formed part of the Louisiana purchase. Territory' of Upper 
Louisiana organized as "District of Louisiana," 1804. Arkan.sas, 
including Indian Territory, established as a Territory, March 2d. 1819. 
State Constitution adopted March 1st, 1836. On March 22d, 1881, the 
Legislature fixed the pronunciation of the name as Ar-kan-saw. 

June 16th, 1775. Committee on Indian Affairs. 

A Committee of Five ou Indian Aflairs appointed by the Continental 
Congress, and instructed to report upon such steps as should be taken to 
secure and preserve the friendship of the Indians. A report was pre- 
sented, July 12th, 1775. August 29th, 1776, a Stan«ling Committee on 
Indian Aftairs was appointed. July 9th, 1832, a District Office for the 
Indian Service, under a Commissioner, was added to the War Depart- 
ment. June 30th, 1834, an act was passed " to provide for the organiza- 
tion of the Department of Indian Affairs." March 3d, 1849, Bureau of 
Indian Afiairs transferred to Interior Department. 

June 16th, 1866. Fourteenth Amendment. 

The fourteenth amendment was referred to the Legislatures of the 
several States, Juue 16th, 1866. Secretary Seward, under date July 28th, 
1868, issued a proclamation stating that it had been ratified by the Legis- 
latures of three-fourths of the States. The amendment required the ap- 
proval of twenty-eight States to make it part of the Constitution ; thirty 
States were named as having ratified it, but Ohio in January. New 
Jersey in April, and Oregon in October, withdrew their consent. The 
Secretary refused to consider the action of these States. holfUng as in the 



LIBERTY PEIMER 91 

case of New Jersey that their approval in 1866, was linal and absolute, 
and could not be withdrawn, even if the preferred amendment had not 
been approved by any other State. At the same time he held that the 
rejection of the four States which ratified it under military pressure in 
July, 1868, was uot final. 

June 17th, 1673. The Mississippi River. 

As early as 1669 while at La Pointe, Marquette considered a 
voyage of discovery. He had heard from the Indians of a great 
river to the westward, whicJb they called Mississippi. From what he 
heard, he supposed the river must lead to the South Sea or the Pacific. 
Frontenac, the Governor, was made acquainted with the stories of the 
great river, and he appointed Louis Joliet a commissioner to undertake 
its discovery and exploration. Jacques Marquette was instructed by the 
Jesuits to accompany him. On May 17th, 1673, they left Michilimackinac, 
crossed Lake Michigan to Green Bay, where, obtaining Indian guides, 
they ascended the Fox River to the portage, where they found a Miami 
village. Securing here two new guides they carried their canoes over to 
the waters of the 3Iescausin or Wisconsin. This river they floated flown, 
and on the 17th of June they entered the Mississippi. They descended 
the great river for 300 miles without seeing a human being. Piuding 
a trail on the east side they followed it to a \'illage of the Illinois 
Indians, who gave them a pleasant reception. Marquette described the 
Missouri, whose muddy waters brought down trunks and branches and 
whose violent rapids inspired them with fear. On July I7ih they reached 
the mouth of the Arkansas, when, fearing they might encounter the 
Spaniards, they started back, returning through the Illinois River, from 
the head of which stream they made a portage to the Chicago River, 
which empties into Lake Michigan. After an absence of five months 
and a voyage of 2,550 miles, they got back to Green Bay during the 
latter part of September, where Marquette remained. Joliet proceeded 
alone to Quebec. His canoe was upset in the Lachine Rapids and he 
lost his manuscripts and maps. He, however, prepared a report and 
made a map from memory. 

June 17th, 1775. The Battle of Bunker Hill. 

On May 25th, Generals Howe, Clinton and Burgoyns arrived at 
Boston with powerful reinforcements from England. The British 
army numbered more than 10,000 men. It was rumored that they 
intended to make sallies out of Boston and destroy the neighboring 
towns. This the Americans determined to prevent by seizing and forti- 
fying Bunker Hill and a height that commands the peninsula of 
Charlestown. 

On the night of the 16th of June Colonel William Prescott was sent 
with a thousand men to occupy aud entrench the hill. Marching to 
Charlestown Neck, about 11 o'clock they reached the eminence they 



92 I.IUKIMV I'KIMKi: 

were instiiicted to Ibrtilv . rrcscott aiul his eiifiincer, Gridley, not lik- 
ing the position of Bunker Hill, proceeded down the peninsula seven 
hundred ysirds to another height afterwards called Breed's Hill. The 
latter was within easy range of Boston. On this summit a redoul)t 
eight rods scjuare was planned by the engineer ; and tlieii from midnight 
until day-tlawn the men worked in silence. The British ships in the 
harbor Avere so near that the Americans could hear the sentinels on deck 
repeating the night call, "All is well." The works were not yet com- 
pleted when morning revealed the new-made redoubt to the astonished 
British of Boston. 

""We must carry these works immediately," said General Gage to 
his otiicers. For he saw that Prescott's cannon now commanded the 
city. As soon as it was light the shi^js in the harbor began to cannonade 
the American position. The British batteries on Copp's Hill also opened 
a heaiy fire. But little damage was done in this way ; the Americans 
returned only an occasional shot ; for their supply of ammunition was 
very limited. Just after noon a British column of 3,000 veterans com- 
manded by Generals Howe and Pigot landed at JSIorton's Point. The plan 
was to carry Breed's Hill by assault. The Americans numbered in all 
about 1,500. They were worn out with toil and hunger ; but there was 
no quailing in the presence of the enemy. During the cannonade Prescott 
climbed out of the defenses and walked leisurely around the parajiet in 
full view of* the British officers. Generals Putnam and Warren volun- 
teered as privates, and entered the trenches. At 3 o'clock in the after- 
noon Howe ordered his column forward. At the same time every gun 
in the fleet and batteries was turned npon the American position. 
Charlestown was wantonly set afire and 400 buildings burned. Thou- 
sands of spectators climbed to their house tops in Boston, and waited to 
heboid the shock of battle. On came the British in a stately and impos- 
ing column. The Americans reserved their fire until the advancing line 
■was within 150 yards. "Fire!" said Prescott; and instantly from 
hreastwork and redoubt every gun was discharged. The front rank of 
the British melted away ; there was a recoil, and fifteen minutes after- 
wards a precipitate retreat. Beyond musket range Howe rallied his 
men and led them to the second charge. Again the American fire was 
withheld until the enemy was but a few rods distant. Then with 
steady aim, volley after volley was poured upon the charging column, 
nntil it was broken and a second time driven to flight. The British 
officers were now desperate. The vessels of the fleet changed position 
until the guus were brought to bear upon the inside of the American 
works. For the third time the assaulting column was put in motion. 
The British soldiers came on with fixed bayonets up the hillside strewn 
with dead and dj'ing. The Americans had but three or four rounds 
remaining. These were expended on the advancing enemy. Then there 
was a lull. The British clambered over the parapet. The provincials 
clubbed their guns and hurled stones at their assailants. It was in vain; 



I.IUKHTY PRIMER D3 

the heroic defenders were driven out of their trenches at the point of the 
bayonet. Prescott lived through the battle, but the brave Warren gave 
his life for freedom. The loss of the British in this terrible engagement 
was 1,0 ■>4 in killed and wounded. The Americans lost 115 killed, 305 
wounded and thirty -two prisoners. Prescott and Putnam conducted the 
retreat by the way of Charlestown Neck to Prospect Hill, where a new 
line of entrenchment was formed that commanded the entrance to 
Boston. John Clark Ridpath. 

June 17th, 1857. Treaty of United States and Japan. 

The Hon. To-\vnsend Harris, Consul General of United States in 
Japan, concluded a convention that secured the right of residence to 
Americans in Simoda and Hakodadi, and stipulated that when Americans 
shall commit offences in Japan, they shall be tried by the Consul Gen- 
eral or Consul and punished on conviction, according to American law. 
The treaty went into force July 4th, 1858. 

June 19th, 1215. The Magna Charta signed at Runnymede. 

The oppressions and exactions of a tyrannical Sovereign called into 
existence a confederacy of the barons, who took up arms to redress their 
grievances. They demanded the restoration of the laws of Henry I. A 
conference between the King and the barons took place at Runnymede, 
a beautiful place in Surrey, on the banks of the Thames, twenty miles 
W. S. W. from London. The King and the barons encamped opposite 
ea<3h other, and held a debate for several days. The barons finding in 
Langton an able leader, compelled John to agree to the Magna Charta, 
which he signed and sealed with all due solemnity. By it 

1. Protection was given to all classes. 

2. London and other cities were guaranteed their ancient privileges. 

3. The Court of Common Pleas was to be stationary. 

4. A freeman was not to be deprived of anything necessary to his 
existence. 

5. No freeman was to be imprisoned or deprived of his property, 
except by the legal judgment of his peers or the law of the land. 

6. Justice was not to be sold, delayed or denied to any. The 
Trust laws were relaxed. 

Another account gives the following : 

1. Protection given to all classes. 

2. The rights of the Church were secured. 

3. No man could be imprisoned without trial by his peers. 

4. niegal taxation was abolished. This has been viewed as the 
basis of English liberty. It has been since confirmed thirty-eight 
times. 

Of the twenty-six barons who subscribed to the document only three 
could write their own names. 

The dates named for this event are June 15, 19, 29, 1215. 



91 i,ii;i;ki V I'KIMKR 

June 19th, 1863. West Virginia admitted to the Union. 

The twenty-second State atlmittod to the Union, the Little Mountain 
State (I'an-ITandle State), fonned from northwestern part of Virginia. 
Representativos of forty counties rejected the ordinance of secession, and 
organized a State Governnu-nt at "Wheeling. 

Stale Constitution adopted in 18G2. The name first proposed was 
Kanawha. 



June 20th, 1789. Death of General Michael Farley at Ipswich, Mass. 

Born at Ipswich in 1719. He was representative for the town in 
the General Court for several years. He' was chosen one of the Council 
in 1774, but General Gage vetoed the election. He was a delegate to the 
Provincial Congress of 1774-75, member of the House of Kepresentatives, 
July, 1775, and Regimental Quartermaster of Colonel Garrish's regiment 
of Massachusetts Militia, May 19 to December, 1775 ; Second Lieutenant 
and Quartermaster Twenty-sixth Regiment of Massachusetts Continental 
Infantry, Colonel Laomi Baldwin, 1776 ; Brigadier General of Essex 
County Militia, 177G ; third Major-Geueral of Massachusetts Militia, 
1777 ; second Major-General in 1778. He was taken prisoner at Young's 
House, N. y., February 3d, 1780. 

June 20th, 1840. The Morse Electric Telegraph Patented. 

A Mr. Somand invented an electric telegraph in 1787, and M. Reizen 
in 1794, Professor Oersted in 1S20, MM. Gauss & Weber, at Grottingen, 
1833, Mr. Alexander, in Scotland in 1837, Mr. Sam'l T. Soemmering, 
electro-chemical telegraph, August 29th, 1809, and on August 23d, 1810, 
he made a bell ring through 2,000 feet of wire. Francis Ronald laid 
down eight miles of insulated wires at his residence at Hammersmith, to 
carry out his system in 1816, and published his invention. Volenti nihil 
dificite, in 1823. Mr. Steinhill made several experiments of his system 
on the railroads in 1836. Messrs. Cool:e and Prof. Wheatstone obtained 
a patent June 12th, 1837, and another for improvements in communicat- 
ing, April 18th, 1838. I\Ir. Davy got a patent July 20th, 1846. Mr. 
Albert Vail invented a printing telegraph, September, 1837. 

June 21st, 1778. New Hampshire ratifies the Constitution. 

The Granite State. The ninth State to ratify the Federal Constitu- 
tion. The first record of the visit of a white man to this part of the country 
was that of Martin Ping who, with two small ships, sailed into the Pisca- 
taqua river in June, 1603. Champlain vdsited it in July, 1605, and dis- 
covered the Isle of Shoals. In 1614 Capt. John Smith made a careful 
examination of the coast— taking a map back to England, which he pre- 
sented to Prince Charles, who thereupon named the whole country New 
England. In November, 1620, the Plymouth Company was chartered. 



LIBERTY PRIMER 95 

On August 1st, 1622, this company gave a sub-charter to Sir Fernando 
Gorges and Capt. John Mason of all the lands lying between the Merri- 
mack and Kennebec rivers and to a line sixty miles inland. The country 
was known as ' ' Laconia. ' ' 

In 1623, Gorges and Mason sent out parties who made settlements 
at what is now Portsmouth and Dover. For several years these were 
mere fishing stations and trading posts. In 1629 Gorges and Mason 
divided their grant, Mason obtaining from the Plymouth Company the 
territory between the Merrimack and Piscataqua, naming it New 
Hampshire, from the County of E.mpshire in England, of which he 
had been a resident. In jNIay, 1629, Eev. John Wheelright visited the 
Abenaki Indians, and purchased from them the claim they held to the 
soil, including the whole territory granted to Mason. In November 
Mason's claim was confirmed by a second patent ; but from this time 
there was continuous litigation, which was ever before the colonial 
courts with appeals to England. In December, 1635, INIason died, his 
widow attempted to govern the country, but the expenses were heaAier 
than the returns, and the claims were given up to the servants and 
dependents of the late proprietor. "VVheelright, Amos Hutchinson and 
their associates, being expelled from Boston, repaired to the banks of the 
Piscataqua and settled at Exeter. The little colony declared itself a Re- 
public on the principle of right and universal toleration. On April 14th, 
1642, the inhabitants united with the province of Massachusetts. This 
union was in force until 1679. 

On July 24th, 1679, by Royal decree. New Hampshire was separated 
from IMassachussetts, and Edward Cranfield selected for Governor. Before 
his arrival an assembly had convened at Portsmouth — their first resolu- 
tion declared "no act, imposition or law, or ordinance shall be valid, 
unless made by the Assembly and approved by the people." In 1682 
Cranfield dismissed the Assembly. This caused trouble, he could collect 
nothing. He wTote to England for a recall. Sir Edmund Audros arrived 
at Boston December 20th, 1686, with a commission for the government 
of all New England. On April 13th, 1689, Audros was arrested and 
imprisoned by the people of Boston. A general assembly convened 
at Portsmouth in 1690, and an ordinance passed uniting it with 
Massachussetts. This was annulled in August, 1692, by the English 
Government. 

In 1698 the Earl of Belmont came out as Governor of New York, his 
commission also covering Massachusetts and New Hampshire. In 1741 
a final separation took place. From this time a separate government 
was maintained until the Revolution, and in 1775 a provincial conven- 
tion was called. A temporary constitution was formed in 1776, and a 
new one adopted in 1784, which was amended in 1792. The claims 
of Mason were sold by his heirs to Samuel Allen, of London, and in 
1691 the title was transferred. New Hampshire suffered greatly from 
the Indian wars. 



96 i.iiiKinv I'KiMKi: 

June 22d, 1772. Slavery in England. The Case of Somerset. 

The question of the legal existence of slaves in Great Britain and Ire- 
land was raised in consequence of an opinion given in 1792, by York and 
Talbot, Attorney-General and Solicitor-( Jcneral at tlio time, to the eflcct 
that a slave coming from the West Indies did not become free, and might 
be compelled to go back by his master. Chief Justice Holt had expressed 
an opinion that was opposed to this. The matter was brought to a final 
issue by Granville Sharp in the case of the negro Somerset. This suit 
was decided by Lord Mansfield speaking for the whole bench, that as 
soon as a slave set his foot upon the soil of the British Islands he became 
from that instant free. 

June 22d, 1805. Birth of Guiseppe Mazzini at Genoa, Italy. 

He was the son of Giacomo ISIazzini, a physician, and University Pro- 
fessor. Graduated in law at University, 1826, for some time in the 
" Officio dei Poveri." Beyond all example, he has raised up and inspired 
an army of revolutionists in the heart of Basque ; an army of men more 
dangerous to despotism, with no weapons but their ideas, than would be 
all the legions of Russia and Austria, turned to the serxice of liberty. 
* * * * Himself the embodiment of the Republican idea in its 
purest and most heroic sense, the Republican host, scattered up and 
down Europe in the masses of the people, look through their leaders to 
Mazzini for words of counsel, and signals for battle. * * * * His 
manner and mind were wonderfully attractive, and Mazzini impressed 
everyone who approached him, with a sense of his extraordinary nature 
and capacity. Sincerity, honor and truth, were stamped on every linea- 
ment of his face. — C. D. Stuart. 

He died at Pisa from an attack of pleurisy, March 10th, 1872, and was 
buried at Genoa. 

June 24th, 1497, 0. S. John and Sebastian Cabot Discovered the American 
Continent. 
Sebastian Cabot coasted some 1,800 miles along the shores of North 
America, in the summer of 1498, landing a colony of adventurers in 
July. Columbus first saw the mainland near the Island of Trinidad, 
and supposing it to be an island called it Zeta. 

June 24th, 1579. First Church Service on the Pacific Slope. 

On a point three-quarters of a mile from the light-house on Point Reyes 
Peninsiila, California, Mr. George W. Childs has caused a Celtic Cross to 
be placed ; the stem is richly carved, the sub-base seven feet high and 
ornamented with runic designs, each facade presenting a cross like that 
of the main shaft above it. The following is the inscription : 

' ' Consecrated October 25th, 1893, by the Church Missionary Council as 
a memorial of the Services held on the shore of Drake's Bay about St. 
John Baptist Day, June 24th, A. D. 1579, by Francis Fletcher, Priest 
of the Church of England, Chajlain of Sir Francis Drake, Chronicler of 
the Service. ' ' 



I.IBKKTY PKIMER 97 

June 24th, 1813. Henry Ward Beecher born. 

Preacher, reformer, " Shakespeare of the pulpit.'' 

June 24tfi. 1821. The Battle of Carabobo. 

Bolivar at the head of the most uumerous and best appointed 
army the Republicans had yet assembled, gained many advantages over 
the Spanish under Slorillo, but finally arranged an armistice at Truxillo 
on November 25th, 1820, for six mouths. As soon as IVIorillo had com- 
pleted the arrangements for the truce, he returned to Spain, leaving 
General Miguel de la Torre in command. Bolivar regarded the departure 
of the Spanish General with suspicion. Fearing that reinforcements 
might be sent, he, however, adhered to the terms under which hostilities 
had been suspended. Directly on the close of the period agreed upon, he 
made a desperate attack on the army under de la Torre at Carabobo. 
The energy and rapidity with which this movement was made paralyzed 
all resistance. The Republicans cut down their opponents in every 
direction, showing little mercy ; but rather a resolve to avenge the 
tyranny under which they had so long suffered. The losses in this short 
conflict has been set down by some at 8,000 men. The whole of the bagg- 
age and field artillery fell into the hands of the victors, who then gave a 
final blow to Spanish rule in Venezuela. It was the decisive action of the 
Revolution. 

Cartagena soon after capitulated, and Puerto Cabello two years later 
surrendered to Gen. Paez. On August 30th, 1821, the Constitution of 
Columbia was adopted, when Bolivar was made President and Santander 
Vice-President. 

June 26th, 1657. Oliver Cromwell installed Lord Protector of England. 

June 26th, 1788. Virginia ratifies the Constitution. 

Virginia was the tenth State to ratify the Constitution. Old Domin- 
ion — Mother of Presidents. First settlement Jamestown, 105 colonists, 
1607. Became- a Crown Colony, 1625. 

June 26th, 1858. Atlantic Telegraph Cable Joined. 

In latitude 52° 02^ longitude 32° 33^ the Atlantic Telegraph Cable 
was spliced from the United States frigate Niagara and the English .ship 
Agamemnon. When three miles had been played out the cable broke on 
the Niagara, which was spliced again, and at 5 p.m. the playing out re- 
commenced. On the 27th the electric continuity gave out at 1 a.m., 
when forty-five miles had been run out from each ship. On 28th the 
cable wa.s joined for the third time, and playing out recommenced. On 
29th communication ceased at 9 p.m., after 250 miles had been played 
from each ship. July 5th the Niagara, vdih the English war tender 
Gorgen, arrived at Queenstowm, Ireland, at 7 a.m., the expedition being 
an successful. 



96 I.IBKUTY I'lUMKE 

June 27th, 1851. Death of Don Valentin de Olano, near Albistur, Spain. 

A house ULur Alltistur has upon it an insoriptiou to the "Glory of 
Guipu/Aoa,"' who died there. ''He was emiueut as au orator and as a 
defender of the fueron. 

"A/Mcrowas a charter formally recognizing and delining the liberties 
and privileges which had l>een long taken for granted, in return for which 
the party receiving it became pledged to fidelity, and to certain specified 
servic<iS-to the general administration. These charters, from the Eleventh 
Century, entered into tlie administrationof the whole Peninsula, and their 
numl)er was greatly multiplied during the two following centuries ; ))ut 
with the centralization of the Spanish power, the local fueros gradually 
gave way. Charles V. ventured first to encroach upon them in the inter- 
est of the Crown, and with the reign of Philip II. they ceased to exist in 
Spain, except in Navarre and in the Basque Provinces, where they were 
stubl)ornly insisted ujjon, and confirmed by successive sovereigns. Each 
Province had a distinct fueros, but the main feature was the same in all. 
The I'rovinces foiined a Confederation of Republics, ruled by chiefs 
elected among themselves, and having their own House of Commons, 
tariffs, police and army. The sovereigns, on their accession, appeared be- 
fore the Provincial Assembly and swore to maintain the charters. 
* * * * Every Bascxue was a nobleman, because he was a Basque. 
Isabella, on her accession, confirmed the fueros, and the Basque 
Provinces remained tranquil from 1840 until the revolution of 1868, 
which dethroned her. The succeeding Provisional Government, Don 
Amedio and the Republic, alike promised to maintain the fueros ; so 
did Alfonso XII., but the Basques organized an armed rebellion in the 
interest of Don Carlos, the grandson of the Pretender, and the results at 
the close of the war in 1876 was the abolition of the fueros, and the occu- 
pation of the principal parts of the Provinces by Spanish troops."— /» 
the Hhndmc of the Pyrenees, by 3Iarvin B. Vineent, D.D. 

June 27th, 1890. Wyoming. 

The bill to admit Wyoming passes U. S. Senate by a strict party vote 
July 10th. The President signs the bill for the admission of Wyoming. 
Formed from Louisiana purcha.se in part and the Gadson purchase from 
Mexico in 1848. Territorial organization formed 1868 ; July 25th from 
Dakota, Utah and Colorado. The name is Indian. 

June 28th, 1778. The Battle of Monmouth. 

On June 18th the British, under Sir Henry Clinton, evacuated the 
City of Philadelphia, crossing the Delaware at Gloucester Point, three 
miles below Camden. A party of American light horse pursued them 
veiy closely and took some prisoners. Washington having learned of 
the movements of the enemy, detached Major General Charles Lee with 
1,500 picked men to reinforce the New Jersey Militia under General 
William Maxwell, who advanced upon English Town (about six miles 



],iBEia\ I'UiMEi; 99 

frora Monmouth Court House). The militia proceeded to the meeting 
house, the main body under "Washington being aljout four miles 
in the rear. At 3 o'clock Sunday morning, General Verj-phausen 
began the march. General Lee had orders to advance and attack 
tlie main body, at the same time advancing for his support. About 
half a mile beyond the Court House General Lee began the attack, 
and for a while drove the enemy, but he was met by a more serious 
resistance than was auticiiiated, or perhaps his raw rt<;ruits and worn out 
volunteers, who had hardly recovered from the winter at Valley Forge, 
were in no condition to meet the British veterans. When Washington 
came up the troops of Lee were in full retreat. Washington seeing the 
disorder, was angry, and upbraided Lee in a violent and bitter 
manner. He rallied the fugitives, and a sharp engagement followed. 
The Americans gained an advantageous position, protected by marshy 
ground, and managed their artillery with excellent eflect. Lee resumed 
his command and held his position until ordered to retire, which he did 
in good fashion. Lord Stirling had command of the left, and here some 
good fighting was done. The British attempted to turn his position, but 
failed. Generals Wayne and Green were posted in an orchard, and under 
cover of the trees were able to pour a galling fire upon the enemy. The 
heat of the day was intense, and it is said in one account that the Hessian 
troops refused to fight because it was so hot. It is evident that a large 
numl)er died from the heat, as a number were found on the field dead 
and without any wound. Sir Henry Clinton, finding the Americans too 
strongly posted, ordered his men to fall back. This put an end to the 
battle. About midnight the British moved rapidly away toward Middle- 
town, leaving five wounded officers and forty privates behind. The 
British loss is stated to have been 110 killed, 172 wounded, 56 missing. 
On June 30th the British force was at Sandy Hook. 

June 29th, 1776. The Virginia Constitution. 

The Constitution was written by George Nelson ; the preamble by 
Thomas Jefferson. The constitution adopted was fundamentally repub- 
lican. The government of Virginia was to consist of a Governor, annu- 
ally chosen by a Senate and House of Delegates, elected by freeholders ; 
and the two houses were also to choose a Privy Council and the judges of 
the Appellate Courts. Thus all the jjower in Virginia was to spring 
from the body of the people having a permanent interest in the com- 
munity, since they were to choose the Legislature, which was in turn to 
choose the Executive and the Judiciary. Such was the instrument which 
has been descri]>ed as the first written constitution of a free State in the 
annals of the world. The preamble, iis already stated, was written by 
Jefferson and sent from Congress. After reciting the wrongs of the Col- 
onies, it declared that in consequence of these "the government of this 
country, as formerly exercised under the Crown of Great Britain, is 
TOTALLY DISSOLVED," the last words being written in the original 



](l(l I.lbtKTY I'HI.MKK 

paper iu capital letters. Thus the convention left nothing in doubt ; 
their action was moiiut to be final. As all power in the community was 
rightly vested iu the people, the people of Virginia had separated from 
(Jreat Britain, and established a constitution for their own government 
in future. — John Eaton Cooke, Magazine American History, May, 1884, 
Vol. XL, No. 5, page 387. 

June 30th, 1629. Massachusetts Colony land at Salem. 

Rev. Francis Higginson, with 200 Puritans, land at Salem. John 
Endicott and a few men hatl preceded them, and in the year following 
Governor Winthrop arrived witli 800 additional. 

June 30th, 1834. The Indian Territory. 

On this day the "Act to provide lor the Organization of the Depart- 
ment of Indian Afiairs," was pas-sed, and the Indian Territory practically 
came into existence. It is unorganized, and has been set aside for the 
occupancy of the Indians, by themselves. The Territory is a part of the 
Louisiana purchase of April 30th, 1803. 

The following memoranda are a few of the dates respecting action in 
regard to the Indians that may be interesting : 

The first treaty with the Indians, of which there is any record, is that 
of Sir Thomas Hale with the Chickahominies in 1613, securing friend- 
ship of the colonists and Indians. 

June 1st, 1775 — A i>etition from Augusta County, Va. , was i^resented 
to Congress respecting the Indians, and asking that a meeting might be 
arranged for at Pittsburg in the interest of peace with them. 

June 16th, 1775 — A committee of five was appointed bj^ Congress on 
Indian Affairs. 

July 12th, 1775 — The Committee on Indian Affairs made a report. 
July 13th, 1775 — Ordered that a talk be prepared for the Indian 
nations, " So as to suit the Indians iu the several departments." 

August 29th, 1776 — A standing Committee on Indian Affairs ap- 
pointed January 27th, 1825. The plan for removing the Indians west 
of the Mississippi set forth by President Munroe in his message to the 
Senate. 

May 28th, 1830 — The act pro\'iding for the exchange of lands with 
Indians residing in any of the States or Territories, and for their removal 
west of the Mississippi. 

July 9th, 1832 — A district office for the Indian service under a Com- 
missioner added to the Department of War. 

March 3d, 1849 — Bureau of Indian Affairs was transferred to the 
Department of the Interior. 

May 14th, 1855 — The first Executive Order, setting apart, a reserva- 
tion for the Indians, was given for the Isabella Reservation in Michigan. 
February 8th, 1887— The " Severalty Act " or " Davis' Bill" passed, 
enables the Indian to become a citizen of the United States who have 
or may take their tribal laad in severalty. 



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The Columbian Liberty Bell, has received in addition to the great medal, 
the following award from the World's Columbian Exposition : 

First — For its patriotic conception. 

Second — For its philanthropic purpose, the beneficent intention of its 
originator being to send it forth among the nations to ring for the triumphs of 
liberty, and to promote peace and good will throughout the world. 

Third — For its historic value. 

Fourth — For its excellent execution and fine tone. 

Fifth — For its intrinsic value and beauty. 

The award is made to " The United Peace Societies of the World." 



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SOUVENIR COLUMBIAN LIBERTY BEIL 

DIMENSIONS OVER ALL 

HEIGHT, 6 1-2 IN. BREADTH, 6 IN. DEPTH, 4 IN. 



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COLUMBIAM LIBERTY BELL p 



3^i&- is to certify, that- the' rncta/* contained 
in the Sell delivered with this Certificate fs a' j 
part of the overflow, !n catting^the-sriat-Cgltur- 

b'an £:bertij SelL 



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FACSIMILE OF CERTIFICATE ISSUED WITH BELL 



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